Sexual abuse survivor Brodie Joyce sets up new advocacy service

Saturday, 11 August 2018

Wellington woman Brodie Joyce, 23, is setting up a service to pair victims of sexual abuse with advocates who have gone through similar experiences.

It happened on her 21st birthday.

After years of sexual abuse at the hands of her former stepfather, Brodie Joyce decided it was time to speak out.

'It was like a little switch had flipped,' she said.

'I finally accepted everything that had happened and what kind of person he was. I realised, on the one hand, I wanted to protect myself, but I also wanted to protect my mother from this person as well.'

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Joyce wants it to be made easier for sexual abuse victims to waive their automatic name suppression, should they want to.

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Within days, Joyce had gone to police about the abuse, which started when she was about 10 or 11-years-old. Her abuser was jailed this year, and she applied to lift her automatic name suppression.

Now 23, the Wellington woman is setting up an advocacy service called Fight Sexual Abuse New Zealand. The soon-to-be-completed website aims to pair victims of sexual abuse with advocates with similar experiences.

Joyce said she was motivated by her own experience with the justice system. She credits the police response as exemplary, but feels it would have helped to be able to talk through the process with a fellow survivor.

For Joyce, talking openly about her situation has been empowering. She describes it as part of the healing process, and says for survivors who want to waive their name suppression it should be easier to do so.

'I wanted to be able to talk freely about what happened, because it wasn't my fault and I shouldn't have to sit in silence if I don't want to.'

She thinks there should be more advice for survivors about how to undertake the process.

She acknowledges the majority of survivors want to keep their suppression, but says if the process is made easier and more stories are told publicly it could help break some of the stigma around sexual abuse.

'It's completely OK to come forward and talk about it if that's what you feel you want to do.'

WHERE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE CAN GET HELP

Rape Crisis - 0800 88 33 00 (Will direct you to a nearby centre), click link for information on local helplines

Victim Support - 0800 842 846 (24hr service)

The Harbour, online support and information for people affected by sexual abuse

Women's Refuge (For women and children) - crisis line available on 0800 733 843

Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust (For men), Helplines across NZ, click to find out more

If it is an emergency or you, or someone you know, is at risk call 111.