Left Write Hook in the media
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Abuse recovery program packs powerful punch.
The Left Write Hook program has been shown to reduce depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder and leave participants feeling strong with a sense of agency and belonging, says the charity founder, The University of Melbourne filmmaker Dr Donna Lyon.
Gong contenders already making real-life difference
A charity helping people recover from child sexual abuse through boxing and writing, and a school-based anti-vaping program are among the finalists in Universities Australia’s Shaping Australia awards.
Brian Austin Green promotes Left Write Hook charity while in Sydney
Austin Green spoke to the Telegraph in support of the Left Write Hook charity initiative, which empowers survivors of child sexual abuse and trauma.
Sexual abuse survivors call for more ‘informal’ services to help their recovery
Victims of sexual abuse say there is a shortage of long-term help outside of the counsellor’s office, fearing the “narrow” stream of options will “compromise” their recovery.
Survivor Circles. Amid Australia’s epidemic of sexual violence, a new wave of peer-led support groups is changing the way victim-survivors heal.
In a small gym in inner-city Melbourne, eight women are pounding punching bags. Every hook is charged with emotion, every jab a reclamation of control.
Left Write Hook follows survivors of childhood sexual abuse reclaiming power through boxing
Left Write Hook's first 20 minutes are visceral, to the point that the documentary's producers questioned whether they could push audiences away entirely..
A child abuser taught Nikki to not resist. Boxing helped her confront her trauma.
“My paternal grandfather had a minimum of 10 other victims, over multiple generations; he was very good at manipulating people into silence and inaction,” she says. “I could not talk about things, or fight back, or take action. You had to sort of freeze, and that was where a lot of the trauma flowed from.”
‘People’s lives have been changed’: could boxing help child abuse survivors deal with trauma?
Left Write Hook, a unique support group in Melbourne, combines boxing and writing to help survivors feel empowered – and is the subject of a punchy new documentary.
Transforming Trauma: The Boxing Writing Workshop for Survivors
Just a few years ago, Donna Lyons founded Left Write Hook, a boxing and writing workshop, that is helping transform the lives of survivors of complex traumas, empowering them to take back their power.
Boxing empowered me to express my trauma – now, I help other abuse survivors do the same, combining it with creative writing
"I felt drawn to boxing, its visceral nature. The prospect of hitting someone in the face and maybe even knocking them out excited me."
Recent articles
Survivors’ boxing program informs research trail
THE eight-week Left Write Hook program, which aims to help adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and gendered violence to recover, is informing a controlled research trial.
“Left Write Hook is an innovative, trauma informed program that explores how movement and creativity can work alongside traditional care,” Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) clinical services coordinator Erin Houlihan said.
Survivor-led Left Write Hook events challenge silence around sexual violence
A survivor-led recovery program is prompting reflection, conversation and connection across Benalla and Beechworth, following a series of Left Write Hook documentary screenings and workshops.
How a Ballarat boxing program is helping survivors rewrite their stories
Ballarat survivors of sexual abuse and gendered violence are taking part in a clinical trial to see whether boxing combined with expressive writing can help their recovery and wellbeing.
Interview with Dr Donna Lyon, founder and CEO of Left Write Hook, a charity organisation based in Melbourne, Australia.
Abuse recovery program packs powerful punch.
The Left Write Hook program has been shown to reduce depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder and leave participants feeling strong with a sense of agency and belonging, says the charity founder, The University of Melbourne filmmaker Dr Donna Lyon.
Rewriting the Script. Building What’s Next For Survivors
Donna Lyon, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne and the founder and CEO of Left Write Hook, a survivor-led charity combining writing, boxing, and peer support to support recovery from childhood sexual abuse and gendered violence.
Gong contenders already making real-life difference
A charity helping people recover from child sexual abuse through boxing and writing, and a school-based anti-vaping program are among the finalists in Universities Australia’s Shaping Australia awards.
Benalla to host acclaimed Left Write Hook program.
An internationally acclaimed program offering a hands-on workshop for victim-survivors of family and sexual violence is headed to Benalla in 2026.
Punching through the pain of abuse
Left Write Hook is a charity that uses a unique blend of journal writing and boxing training to support victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse and gendered violence.
Life changing program continues vital work
Residents in Knox and surrounding areas have recently completed a life-changing trauma recovery program in Boronia.
Knocking out a left write hook
A one-off public screening of a documentary following the journey of eight survivors of childhood sexual abuse taking part in a trauma-recovery program will be held this month.
Brian Austin Green promotes Left Write Hook charity while in Sydney
Austin Green spoke to the Telegraph in support of the Left Write Hook charity initiative, which empowers survivors of child sexual abuse and trauma.
Press coverage of the
Left Write Hook documentary
Survivor-led Left Write Hook events challenge silence around sexual violence
A survivor-led recovery program is prompting reflection, conversation and connection across Benalla and Beechworth, following a series of Left Write Hook documentary screenings and workshops.
Punching trauma into recovery
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse and gendered violence in North East Victoria will have access to a rare, survivor‑led recovery experience later this month, when the award‑winning documentary Left Write Hook screens in Benalla and Beechworth.
Left Write Hook screening
Dr Donna Lyon joins Jo Printz to introduce the upcoming screening of the Left Write Hook documentary in Benalla. Starts at 1 hr 6 mins.
Benalla Event: Left Write Hook Documentary + Live Q&A & Free Workshop
Experience a powerful night of storytelling, healing and connection as Left Write Hook comes to Benalla on Monday 20 April. Presented by Centre Against Violence, this special event features a screening of the award-winning documentary followed by an insightful live Q&A—and a free workshop the next day designed to support recovery and resilience.
Left Write Hook, the documentary
Pixie, Left Write Hook film participant and Kate Wright, CASA CV CEO, join Fiona Parker to talk about the program and the documentary, ahead of the Bendigo screening. Starts at 39 mins.
Documentary and survivor workshops to open local conversations.
When Lucy Lee first watched the documentary Left Write Hook at a screening in Melbourne, she knew it was something her own community needed to see.
“It stayed with me long after the credits rolled,” Lucy said.
“I could not stop thinking about the stories, the strength of the participants, and how important it is for communities like ours to have these conversations.”
Powerful documentary and survivor workshop coming to Benalla
When Lucy Lee first watched the documentary Left Write Hook at a screening in Melbourne, she knew it was something her own community needed to see.
Empowering Survivors through Boxing and Creative Writing
Tune in to hear how Donna drew on her own lived experiences as a trauma survivor to create this unique and rapidly expanding charity. Learn more about Left, Write, Hook's flagship 8-week workshop, which was first held in 2019 and has led to a published book of survivor stories and more recently an award winning documentary now screening on Netflix.
Podcasts and radio
Left Write Hook screening
Dr Donna Lyon joins Jo Printz to introduce the upcoming screening of the Left Write Hook documentary in Benalla. Starts at 1 hr 6 mins.
Dr Donna Lyon joins Justin Smith to talk about the impact of childhood sexual abuse and how much boxing and writing helped her. She introduces Left Write Hook and how it impacts survivors. Starts at 2 h 18 mins.
Left Write Hook, the documentary
Pixie, Left Write Hook film participant and Kate Wright, CASA CV CEO, join Fiona Parker to talk about the program and the documentary, ahead of the Bendigo screening. Starts at 39 mins.
Empowering Survivors through Boxing and Creative Writing
Tune in to hear how Donna drew on her own lived experiences as a trauma survivor to create this unique and rapidly expanding charity. Learn more about Left, Write, Hook's flagship 8-week workshop, which was first held in 2019 and has led to a published book of survivor stories and more recently an award winning documentary now screening on Netflix.
Turning Trauma Into Purpose Through Creativity & Empowerment
Discover how filmmaker and charity CEO Donna Lyon transformed trauma, addiction, and adversity into a life of purpose, creativity, and empowerment. In this compelling episode host Fran Harper dives into Donna’s journey from “surviving” to “leading,” and how her organisation Left Write Hook helps survivors heal through storytelling, movement, and community.
How a boxing and writing programme helps
A trauma-informed boxing course in Melbourne is helping women who've survived sexual abuse reclaim their bodies and rewrite their stories. Left Write Hook was founded by Donna Lyon - who was herself a survivor of abuse. She'd turned to boxing as a way to channel her anger - but instead discovered its power as a mindfulness practice.
Storytelling, Movement & Healing with Donna Lyon of Left Write Hook
In this special bonus episode of Reflect, Reclaim & Liberate, I share an incredibly powerful and important conversation with Dr Donna Lyon—a producer, associate professor at the University of Melbourne, and survivor-advocate who is reshaping the conversation around trauma recovery.
Dr. Donna Lyon of Left Write Hook
In this podcast, I sat down with Dr Donna Lyon, the Founder of the Left Write Hook. Left Write Hook is the name of her charity, book series and now an award-winning documentary that Donna produced. It is a 8-week boxing and creative writing program for victims of child sexual abuse and complex trauma with the goal of empowering its participants.
In conversation with the Left Write Hook team
Hosted by Joel Jackson. Featuring director Shannon Owen, producer Donna Lyon and film participant Nikki. A discussion on the journey from program to book to documentary, recorded at Cinefest Oz Film Festival 2024.
Left, Write, Hook…Boxing, Writing, Healing
Dr. Donna Lyon chats to Tiffanee Cook on the Roll With The Punches Podcast, about survivor experiences, recovery, the Left Write Hook Program and the Left Write Hook Film.
Scholarly publications
Project Supervisor: Dr Caitlin Hitchcock
Additional Researchers: Dr Daniel Rylatt, Dr Donna Lyon, Dr Emma Veltman, Ms Molly Butler, Dr Alicia Smith
Published in February 2026
Left Write Hook: trial protocol for a community-based type II hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster randomised controlled trial of a boxing and writing-based intervention for adult survivors of child sexual abuse and gender-based violence in Australia
Molly Butler, Emma Veltman, Donna Lyon, et al. (2025).
Published in BMJ Open,15, e099536. 10 September 2025.
Shannon Owen, Donna Lyon
Published in Media Practice and Education, 11 February 2025, 26(3), 283–301.
Donna Lyon, Claire Gaskin, Gabrielle Everall
Appeared in ‘Intersections of Sport, Society, and Creative Writing’, pp 159–173. Edited by Lee McGowan and Kasey Symons.
Donna Lyon, Claire Gaskin, and Gabrielle Everall
Published in TEXT 26 (Special 67): 1–18 , 20 August 2022
Donna Lyon, Shannon Owen, Margaret S. Osborne, Khandis Blake, Bruna Andrades
Published in International Journal of Wellbeing 10 (5): 64-82
Interested in an interview?
If you would like to interview our program founder, Dr Donna Lyon, or another member of our team, please complete the contact form linked below. Please note, we are a small team with limited resources. We will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible and thank you in advance for your patience.