#9 How male sexual abuse survivor journeys differ

In today’s episode, do you know any men who have survived sexual abuse? Maybe you have. Given that one in six men in Australia have been sexually abused - usually as children or adolescents, you most likely do know someone - however also given the sensitivity of this information, combined with the average period of time to disclose being over 23 years - there’s a fair chance that you have no idea who they are. So how do the journeys of male survivors differ from those of females? What does it take for survivors to grow stronger than their past? And in a post-Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that took place between 2013 and 2017, where to now for survivors? Well with the help of Mr Robert Fitzgerald AM, that’s exactly what we’re going to be learning about today. Robert was one of the Commissioners from that Royal Commission. 

Presently the NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner, Robert was previously appointed as Productivity Commissioner, the Community and Disability Services Commissioner, and Deputy Ombudsman in NSW, and also served as the convener of the Indigenous Disadvantage Working Group of the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision (imagine having that written on the back of your door!). Robert was appointed to Chair the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Advisory Board for three years from 2012 and was formerly President of the Australian Council of Social Services. He has an honorary doctorate from ACU, is a Member of the Order of Australia, and a recipient of the Centenary medal. As I am sure you will soon agree, Robert exudes wisdom, compassion and humility, and is widely regarded to have about as safe a pair of hands as you will ever find.

Thank you for tuning in, and I hope you enjoy the show.

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Links from the show:

If you would like to get in touch with SAMSN, the Survivors and Mates Support Network, then head to:

• samsn.org.au
• or you can call them free Monday to Friday during office hours on 1800 472 676

If you need help right away, then contact:

• Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 (available 24/7), or 
• the Blue Knot Foundation on 1800 657 380 (seven days a week 9-6pm weekdays, and 9-5pm on weekends and public holidays). 

To listen to SAMSN’s new podcast STRONGER, a series of extraordinary stories about resilience from male survivors of child sexual abuse and their allies, it is available now via major streaming platforms, or on their website: 

• samsn.org.au/podcast

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