This “special edition” episode of STRONGER features some of the people integral to SAMSN’s impactful work. Our host, SAMSN’s CEO Craig Hughes Cashmore chats with Professor Patrick O’Leary and Doctor Gary Foster, both of whom are part of SAMSN’s Practice Advisory Committee. Following SAMSN’s high-impact roundtable in Canberra, our two expert advisors have some powerful insights to share with you.

The Roundtable – Intersections of Child Sexual Abuse, Suicidality & Violence – was held at the Red Shed in Canberra on the 17th of September 2025 as part of a joint project between Survivors & Mates Support Network (SAMSN), Griffith University’s Disrupting Violence Beacon (DVB) and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW). It aimed to shine a light on the ongoing national tragedy of child sexual abuse (CSA), suicidality and violence. Participants included survivors and advocates, academics, researchers, policy makers, and frontline workers in service delivery. It is hoped this Roundtable, and further conversations will help shape priorities and collaborations around the critical work needed to save lives touched by CSA. You can read the full report on our website.

Professor Patrick O’Leary is the co-Director of the Disrupting Violence Beacon and Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women at Griffith University. He’s an internationally-recognised researcher, with significant expertise in domestic violence, gender-based violence and child protection. Prior to entering academic work, Patrick was a social worker in sexual assault, counselling, and domestic violence services. For over 25 years he’s conducted research on the effects of child sexual abuse on men.

Dr Gary Foster is a social worker who used to be a Police Officer in London’s Metropolitan Police, where he co-coordinated a Domestic Violence unit and investigated and prosecuted sexual assaults. After his move to Australia, Gary established and managed Queensland’s “Living Well” service, which provided counselling and group support to men who’d experienced childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault, as well as to partners, families, and communities. Gary’s PhD examines governmental responses to male-on-male rape. Gary joined SAMSN’s Practice Advisory Committee to help build a support network giving voice and agency to male survivors and their supporters.

We hope you enjoy this special episode, subscribe to the series, and join us in 2026 for Season 2: STRONGER STORIES.

• (00:00:02) - Samson's Strongest Stories
• (00:00:33) - Stronger: Season 1
• (00:02:25) - Samson's Stronger Stories:
• (00:04:24) - The national conversation on child sexual abuse
• (00:06:40) - Survivors of Suicidality speak out
• (00:09:57) - The national sexual abuse strategies
• (00:16:10) - Post-traumatic stress and health
• (00:18:21) - Barriers to disclosure in suicide
• (00:19:51) - When is it safe to talk about violence in the workplace?
• (00:24:17) - Survivors' Day: Hope and the challenges
• (00:28:58) - Talking About Suicide Among Sexual Abuse Survivors
• (00:35:28) - Male survivors of child sexual abuse
• (00:45:20) - The importance of survivors of child sexual abuse
• (00:46:16) - The similarities and differences of sexual abuse survivors
• (00:49:23) - Widespread stigma around child sexual abuse
• (00:52:55) - What silences men from speaking about child sexual abuse?
• (01:02:23) - Stronger Stories

The National Redress Scheme was established after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse recommended setting up a less traumatic, non-adversarial alternative to seeking compensation through the courts. Redress consists of three things: a monetary payment, access to counselling, and an opportunity to receive an apology from the institution, called a Direct Personal Response.

This ‘How-To’ explainer features a personal story from a survivor who sought redress through the National Redress Scheme. We'll also hear reflections from a former Royal Commissioner, a legal expert, redress support service workers, and a counsellor. This episode is specifically designed to help potential applicants (and their supporters) understand the scheme, its benefits, how to access it, and what they might be able to expect from the experience.

Originally completed in 2021, this episode was updated in June 2024 to reflect recent legislative changes intended to improve the Redress Scheme.

Featuring (in order of appearance): Tony Daly, Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM, Prue Gregory OAM (SAMSN’s Policy, Advocacy & Stakeholder Relations Manager), Rachel Neil (Principal Lawyer, Knowmore Legal Service), David (SAMSN planned support worker), Gill (SAMSN counsellor).

Thanks to:
The National Redress Scheme https://www.nationalredress.gov.au/
knowmore legal service https://knowmore.org.au

Music: Licensed via Audiio.com
TONY / FELICITY / ROB - Julep House: Wanted Man
CLOSING CREDITS - Seth Öphengon: A Safe Place (Instrumental)

Male survivors often try to forget or bury their experiences of abuse and use a range of strategies to block out the memories and feelings. These can look like drug and alcohol use, gambling, workaholism, and sex addictions… but frequently, they don't make the link between what happened to them as children or young guys, and their current ways of managing their life.

The tactics that abusers use mean that survivors often carry heavy legacies, like being made to feel complicit and responsible for aspects of the abuse, and being forced to keep the abuse secret in order to protect others. This often results in feelings of powerlessness, anger, shame and self-blame.

Managing these burdens requires - in the words of psychologists Sophie Reid and Jace Cannon Brookes - “ingenious survival”. The survivors in this episode share some of their survival strategies.

Featuring (in order of appearance): Shane Greentree (SAMSN), Adam S, Matthew O, Ryan C, Lindsay G, Clinical Psychologists Jace Cannon-Brooks & Sophie Reid (Birchtree Centre), Phillip S, Jarad G, Janet, Les S, Martin W, Craig Hughes-Cashmore (SAMSN, MD/CEO), Rae Boxwell (SAMSN, Counsellor), Brett Pickard (SAMSN, Eight-week Support Group facilitator), Pete R.

Resources for survivors:

https://www.samsn.org.au/recovery-and-healing/resources-for-survivors/

Thanks to:

All our wonderful interviewees!
Rob Carlton and Felicity Blake
Jace Cannon-Brooks & Sophie Reid, Birchtree Centre
Peter Bolam
And The National Redress Scheme

Music: Licensed via Audiio.com

• SHANE - Sebastian Kauderer: Stay With Me (Instrumental)
• ADAM, MATTHEW, RYAN - Matthew Wright: Theme
• JANET - Richard Smithson: Sometimes I Don't Know Who I Am
• MARTIN - The Future Reality: Iridescent
• MARTIN - Marshall Usinger: Everything We Hoped For
• AD / RIC HERBERT - Sebastian Kauderer: Two Big Reasons
• LINDSAY, ADAM, LES, RYAN, PHIL (CLOSING) - Kevin Bean: Willow
• CLOSING CREDITS - Seth Öphengon: A Safe Place (Instrumental)