Need support now? If you or a child is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). If you need to talk to someone, Lifeline (13 11 14), 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) and the Blue Knot Helpline (1300 657 380) are there for you.
Left Write Hook is not a crisis or support service. For more services, visit our Get support page.
Finding support as a survivor
Content note: This page talks about childhood sexual abuse and its impacts. It is not graphic, but it may be distressing. Please take care of yourself while reading, and step away whenever you need to. The Quick Exit bar at the bottom of this site will close this page at any time.
If you’ve experienced abuse, neglect, family violence or other forms of trauma as a child, young person or adult, there is information and support available to help you.
Recovering is possible, even when the trauma is ongoing or complex.
Left Write Hook is not a support service. We are a survivor-led charity delivering recovery programs for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and family violence.
If you are looking for support, or would like to talk with someone about childhood trauma, complex trauma or childhood sexual abuse, the services below are trusted places to start.
You get to choose what support looks like for you and when you access it.
You also don’t need to share the details of what happened to you in order to receive the support you deserve. You are always in control of what you share.
If you need help now
If you are in crisis, please call Triple Zero (000). For support at any hour:
1800 Respect
The national counselling service for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence,
available 24/7
Call: 1800 737 732
Text: 0458 737 732
Live chat
Blue Knot Helpline
Australia's specialist helpline for adult survivors of childhood trauma, 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week. Blue Knot also runs the Redress Support Service for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
Call: 1300 657 380
Visit site
See our full Get support page for more services, including local options.
Talking to a professional
A counsellor, psychologist or psychotherapist experienced in trauma can be an important part of recovery. A good starting point is your GP: you can ask for a mental health treatment plan, which provides Medicare-subsidised sessions with a mental health professional. You can bring a support person to any appointment, and you do not need to describe your trauma in detail to access help. Saying "I went through some difficult experiences as a child and I would like support" is enough.
Finding the right practitioner can take time, and that is okay. It is normal to try more than one counsellor until you find someone who feels safe and right for you. Blue Knot Foundation has helpful guidance on choosing a counsellor, seeing a counsellor, and what good trauma-informed practice looks like.
Peer support and community
Connecting with other survivors can be powerful. Being heard and understood by people who have been there reduces isolation and shame in a way few other things can. The Survivor Hub is a safe and inclusive space where survivors can connect, be informed and feel supported. Peer connection is also at the heart of the Left Write Hook program, where every group is led by facilitators with lived or living experience.
Culturally safe and community-specific support
Support works best when it feels safe for who you are. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can contact 13YARN (13 92 76), a 24/7 crisis support line run by First Nations people. LGBTQIA+ people can contact QLife (1800 184 527, 3pm to 9pm) for peer support. If English is not your first language, telephone interpreting is available for most services. 1800RESPECT and Blue Knot can also help you find support that fits your circumstances.
Survivor-led programs
Survivor-led programs bring together people with shared lived experience in environments built on understanding, choice and connection.
Left Write Hook runs a research-informed 8 week program combining trauma-aware writing and non-contact boxing, designed and delivered by survivors. It is low cost with a pay what you can approach, no referral is needed, and every participant has a one-on-one intake with a qualified mental health professional before starting. It is not a substitute for therapy, and many participants do both. If it sounds like something you would like to try, you can join the waitlist or learn more about the program.
Take it at your own pace
Reaching out can feel enormous, especially if past experiences of seeking help were not good ones. You are allowed to take things one step at a time, to change your mind, to try again later, and to choose what feels right. Whatever pace you go at, you deserve support that honours your choices, your experiences and your strengths. You are not alone.
Sources: Left Write Hook film site Resources (Finding Support as a Survivor); Left Write Hook Get support page; Blue Knot Foundation; The Survivor Hub; service details from each provider.