VOICEUP Australia, a group working to provide support, education, prevention and advocacy to survivors with unresolved trauma, celebrated a decade of speaking up, speaking out and breaking the tyranny of silence.

A project of Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre (CHNC), VoiceUp ‘members’ marked the ten-year milestone with a day of connection through yoga, art, celebration lunch and information on managing triggers of trauma pathways.

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Gathered together on Saturday 21 October made for a celebration of ten years of voluntary work.

VoiceUp Australia was born in a community garden in Coffs Harbour in 2013 and operates under Volunteering Coffs Harbour Inc.

It grew from a social worker and a couple of community development workers with lived experience who recognised the need for an organic community development approach to support survivors with unresolved trauma.

This arose because of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse from 2013-2017.
Neighbourhood centres were identified as the safest places to operate this supportive group experience.

“VoiceUp Australia works to lift the veil of silence that surrounds violation – sexual, emotional and physical – in all its forms,” Chris Marks, a Victims of Crime Approved Counsellor and VoiceUp spokesperson told News Of The Area.

“Our focus is on speaking up, exploding the myths and raising awareness about the long-term impacts of unresolved trauma for adults and their families.”

Saturday’s ten-year celebration began with a Welcome to Country.

Participants then did a yoga session with Mel Fajerman followed by a creative art workshop with Shelle Cowan and Meg Johanson.

Mel is a facilitator for Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), a clinical intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Trauma Sensitive Yoga moves beyond traditional talk therapies that focus on the mind, by bringing the body actively into the healing process through mindfulness, sensory integration, movement and breath.

“By focusing on the felt sense of the body to inform choice-making, TCTSY supported participants to explore their connection of mind and body and cultivate a sense of agency that is often compromised as a result of trauma,” Mel Fajerman said.

The expressive art workshop provided participants with the freedom to use paints to bring a joy to sensory and “no big deal” creativity.

“(It’s about) freeing up expectations and moving to joyfulness, something that many survivors had ‘no time for’ in their struggle to survive from violation,” explained Shelle Cowan, an Aboriginal Trauma Specialist.

Everyone joined together for lunch at Pete’s Place where conversation focussed on participants sharing what VoiceUp means to them.

Cassandra said, “VoiceUp has changed my life.

“Each day that goes by in the VoiceUp community creates a greater sense of identity and a desire to engage in life with more empowerment, fulfillment and love.”

Leash said, “I have been to a couple of sessions to support my sister who is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

“Being here to walk this healing journey, support survivors, to listen with respect to the group members feels like an incredibly important part of the work of VoiceUp, to break the silence and heal the traumas.

“Being in community with others in a collective care and hearing the impact and power of VoiceUp for individuals and to notice the ripple effect in families and communities.”

Carolyn said, “VoiceUp has enabled me to acknowledge, accept and move forward in my journey of healing childhood trauma.”

Meg said, “VoiceUp has provided me with a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space to find my voice after childhood sexual abuse.

“I have found that attending regular VoiceUp groups/meetings has given me the opportunity to be with those who share my lived experience, and I don’t feel so alone.

“I have also received lots of information that helps me in my daily life.”

Gai Newman shared an important reason why the project is called VoiceUp.

“We know that silence and cover-ups by families, organisations and the broader community contribute to re-traumatising children and adults,” said Gai.

“No more secrets, voice up, break the silence.”

To contact Helpline Support call 1800737732, Blue Knot Helpline 1300657380 and/or CHNC Coordinator 02 6648 3694.

Email: support@voiceupaustralia.com.au.

By Andrea FERRARI