Dragonfly Advocacy - support for child abuse survivors #sameherenoshamehere
Understanding, empathy & support from the author of Circling The Wagons
Dragonfly = transformation, renewal, resilience.
About Dragonfly Advocacy
How I can help you
How I can help you
How I can help you
Here's 3 things I can help with -
At Dragonfly Advocacy, I am available for public speaking engagements, large or small, or to work with organisations to help others understand intra-familial abuse, from my lived experience and knowledge.
I will advocate for you and point you in the right direction to find resources, organisations and pro
Here's 3 things I can help with -
At Dragonfly Advocacy, I am available for public speaking engagements, large or small, or to work with organisations to help others understand intra-familial abuse, from my lived experience and knowledge.
I will advocate for you and point you in the right direction to find resources, organisations and programs to facilitate healing, from your trauma of childhood sexual abuse, for people living in Australia. (See organisation links further down).
My book - Circling The Wagons, is a great resource for survivors, counsellors or anyone wanting to understand how family abuse circumstances occur. It explains in easy to read detail, all the ramifications survivors go through in their lives. (Paperback available for sale below).
Please note - My role is of an advocate only. Advocate - a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause. My opinions and views should not take the place of your professionals.
my book
How I can help you
How I can help you
EBOOK & PAPERBACK - AVAILABLE NOW GLOBALLY on Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.
"Circling The Wagons" is a firsthand account of a survivor's struggles to reclaim her life after dealing with intra-familial childhood sexual abuse trauma hidden within a family environment. Written for other survivors and friends/family members of survivors to ge
EBOOK & PAPERBACK - AVAILABLE NOW GLOBALLY on Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.
"Circling The Wagons" is a firsthand account of a survivor's struggles to reclaim her life after dealing with intra-familial childhood sexual abuse trauma hidden within a family environment. Written for other survivors and friends/family members of survivors to get a true, in-depth and honest look into the devastating effects hidden abuse can have, when it is not dealt with for decades.
Testimonials
So many people will feel seen and heard with this book! Indi M
Deb was really able to capture the environment that is created for a child who is betrayed by people who are meant to protect them. We shouldn’t look away from the reality and impact of child abuse. A thought-provoking read. Christine B
Deb courageously steps into her truth to shine a light on Intra-familial Child Sexual Assault and the family systems that perpetuate and conceal it. It was a privilege to read it.
Thank you Deb for being a voice for Survivors of IFCSA. Michelle H
Meet the author
How I can help you
Meet the author
Hi, I'm Deb!
I not only endured my own abuse from a family member growing up and was silenced, but then heard stories from so many others over the years. This led me to try to help other survivors by telling my own story on Bravehearts website in their survivor stories section.
Standing up in 2023 to advocate for others and to say th
Hi, I'm Deb!
I not only endured my own abuse from a family member growing up and was silenced, but then heard stories from so many others over the years. This led me to try to help other survivors by telling my own story on Bravehearts website in their survivor stories section.
Standing up in 2023 to advocate for others and to say this happened to me, opened up a dialogue with many survivors who had experienced similar abuse.
Now I'm here to support, educate and encourage adult childhood abuse survivors to find peace.
My ongoing mission is to help other adult survivors find their way through their pain and trauma to the other side, where healing and acceptance lives.
#sameherenoshamehere
adult child abuse survivors
Laurel Place Inc.
Services against sexual violence
Laurel Place Inc. is a community-based, government funded, free, specialised and confidential Counselling service. They provide counselling, support, information and education relating to sexual violence across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Gympie and South Burnett areas.
Their staff are specialist sexual assault practitioners who hold a range of qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling and Human Services.
Adults and Young People's Program
Our Adults and Young People’s Program provides specialist sexual assault counselling and support to young people (aged 12 and over) and adults who have experienced sexual assault or abuse at any time in their lives. Counselling can also be provided to non-offending supporters, including parents, care-givers and partners of people who have experienced sexual assault or abuse.
https://www.laurelplace.com.au/services/adults-and-young-peoples-program
Other services they offer - First Response Program, Children & Families Program, First Nations Client Support Worker, RESET (Youth Sexual Violence) and Women's Space.
They have offices at – Maroochydore, Morayfield, Gympie and Murgon.
Click here to get in touch - https://www.laurelplace.com.au/contact-us
Isabella Semeraro - Counsellor
About Isabella -
Isabella values kindness, understanding, honesty, and curiosity in her counselling practice. She focuses strongly on the therapeutic relationship between herself and her clients and believes that her clients are the experts in their own lives. Isabella works from a values-based and client-centered approach, utilising a mixture of narrative, creative, and somatic therapies. Isabella enjoys supporting and empowering clients from all walks of life to overcome challenges they may be facing.
To contact Isabella click here - https://www.isabellasemerarocounselling.com/contact
Services Isabella offers -
- Individual Counselling
- Child & Adolescent Counselling
- Couples Counselling
- Family Counselling
Isabella is also currently working as a sexual assault counsellor at a not for profit organisation.
She feels privileged to walk alongside and hear the stories of survivors.
"Raising my voice" to stop violence
Guest speaker at "Moreton Bay Says No To Violence" Walk & Speaking event 31-5-24, opening up the dialogue of intra-familial childhood sexual abuse being a form of domestic violence. Abuse help
Speaking event
Click here to watch video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S8lkamTsc85Vw4VwSj-HIxvLu3d3G3EH/view?ts=665d47c1
Childhood sexual abuse = Domestic Violence
Deb explains why "Intra-familial childhood sexual assault" should be included when speaking about "domestic violence." abuse help, adult survivors, adult child abuse survivors
SAMSN - Survivors & Mates Support Network
Support for Male survivors of child sexual abuse
- Established in 2011, SAMSN is Australia’s leading organisation for male survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters. Read more about SAMSN’s history here.
- SAMSN is a not-for-profit charity that evolved through collaboration between survivors and professionals to provide services to male survivors, their families, and supporters.
- All male survivors of child sexual assault should know that the abuse was not their fault and that healing and recovery is possible.
- Regardless of his ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or religion, any man, including all expressions of male gender identity, can contact SAMSN for support.
- Our services for survivors and supporters are FREE.
Surf Online Safe - Internet Awareness
How to keep your children safe online
“Paul was a WA Police Officer for 20 years with his last 6 years spent within Technology Crime. He was involved in a large number of investigations where adults and kids were caught up in the risks the online world presents. Paul started educating kids about those risks in his local area and decided to leave the police to start Surf Online Safe. Paul is now presenting to over 850 schools and organisations across Australia and is recognised as the nation’s leading educator in the field of Internet Awareness. Paul has been pivotal in driving legislative support for the victims of online crime and was the driving force behind the introduction of Intimate Image Abuse laws in 2019. Paul’s dedication and commitment to education and awareness culminated in him being named the 2022 WA Australian of the Year.”
Sextortion!
Paul says - Crimes which were once only ever experienced by adults are now affecting juveniles in huge numbers. Over the past 5years in particular, I have noticed a marked increase in the number of teenagers approaching me for assistance with some of the most serious of matters. Kids are making errors of judgement online and as their navigation of online environments grow with age, they are being exposed to more and more significant risk. One of the most concerning crimes being experienced by juveniles in more recent times is Sextortion.
Click here - https://www.surfonlinesafe.com.au/sextortion.html to find out more about what to and what not to do if your child is targeted, and how to talk to your child about this heinous form of child abuse before it occurs.
Where to buy "Circling The Wagons" around Brisbane
Locations to pick up a copy of my paperback -
- Little Bird Bookshop - Paddington
- Samford Variety Store - Samford
- Baffies Oan Bookstore - Samford
- Rendezvous cafe & bookshop - Dayboro
Child Abuse Prevention Podcast
The CAPE podcast
During my advocacy work, I came across the CAPE podcast by ex WA Detective Kristi McVee. CAPE stands for Child Abuse Prevention and Education. Kristi speaks with a vast aray of experts and lived experience guests on her podcast. She gives specific information, advice and tools to assist and guide parents in keeping their kids safe from abuse. I have personally learnt a lot just from listening to a few of her episodes and due to her laid-back approach to interviewing, find her show very relatable and easy to listen to.
Check CAPE out on Spotify or click here to listen now - https://www.cape-au.com/podcasts/the-cape-podcast
Organisations for further help in Australia
Child Sexual Abuse support services
mental health support & suicide prevention
child protection Education & Resources
Blue Knot - https://blueknot.org.au
Partners Speak - https://www.partnerspeak.org.au
Knowmore - https://knowmore.org.au
child protection Education & Resources
mental health support & suicide prevention
child protection Education & Resources
Safe4kids - https://safe4kids.com.au
Educate 2 Empower Publishing - https://e2epublishing.info
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation -
mental health support & suicide prevention
mental health support & suicide prevention
mental health support & suicide prevention
Lifeline Australia - https://www.lifeline.org.au
Kids Helpline - https://kidshelpline.com.au
Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au
domestic violence support services
domestic violence support services
mental health support & suicide prevention
Encircle - https://encircle.org.au
1800Respect - https://www.1800respect.org.au
White Ribbon - https://whiteribbon.org.au/helplines/
DVConnect - https://www.dvconnect.org
cyber safety & online resources
domestic violence support services
cyber safety & online resources
Surf Online Safe - https://surfonlinesafe.com.au
esafety - https://www.esafety.gov.au
esafekids - https://www.esafekids.com.au
Youth Law Australia - https://yla.org.au
Think U Know - https://www.thinkuknow.org.au
Adult survivor resources
domestic violence support services
cyber safety & online resources
Circling the Wagons paperback - https://dragonflyadvocacy.com.au/ols/products/circling-the-wagons-paperback
Bravehearts - https://bravehearts.org.au/
Blueknot - https://blueknot.org.au
Connections with other survivors
Connections
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, at times I felt very alone and isolated, both as a child and adult. Didn’t have many people to talk to about what happened. Especially to anyone who understood all the emotions and the complexity around the abuse circumstances that occurs within families.
Telling our stories
I wrote my survivor story on Bravehearts website in August 2023. I heard about another survivor story – John Cardamone. I read his story and reached out to him to say hi and let him know I thought he was very brave, as not a lot of men talk about their experiences.
Sharing our journeys
We found that we connected in a lot of ways and became friends who could reach out to each other when we needed to share where we were in our healing journeys etc. Or to just support each other at times.
John's advocacy
John has his own website - http://johncardamone.com.au/ that I recommend for anyone to visit.
John has also recently read my book and kindly shared some of his thoughts.
Circling the wagons was an amazing read and experience, as a childhood sexual abuse survivor myself, I was able to connect and relate to this book very easily. I had many moments reading this book that I could relate to, this has helped me to identify what steps I need to take next and support me to have confidence as an adult survivor.
Reading this book has great insights what a survivor of childhood abuse may encounter through life and how to navigate through this. For such a difficult topic to write about Deb has written with such passion and a clear purpose to help others through their healing. Thank you, Deb, for having the courage to write a challenging and sharing personal aspects of your life for the benefit of others.
Absolutely highly recommend for anyone that wants a perspective from someone that has lived experience firsthand and how to enhance your life with simple and easy strategies to find your pathway to healing.
John Cardamone
Speaker, Educator and survivor
Gloria Masters - Handing The Shame Back
Gloria's Story
invaluable resources
Power from her pain
I recently had the privilege to meet this amazing woman Gloria Masters from New Zealand. Gloria is one of the most extraordinary, warm and caring survivors, I've had the pleasure to speak with and she was kind enough to have me on her podcast - Handing The Shame Back.
Here is some of Gloria's story -
I survived 16 years of child sexual
I recently had the privilege to meet this amazing woman Gloria Masters from New Zealand. Gloria is one of the most extraordinary, warm and caring survivors, I've had the pleasure to speak with and she was kind enough to have me on her podcast - Handing The Shame Back.
Here is some of Gloria's story -
I survived 16 years of child sexual abuse including trafficking right here in NZ.
My father made a lot of money out of me and I was leased to gangs and other groups. I featured in over 100 child sexual abuse materials, mainly videos, was leased to gangs and freemasons, had forced abortions performed on me, and endured satanic ritual abuse. My grandmother got paid a commission to train me, so I never stood a chance really.
Power from her pain
invaluable resources
Power from her pain
Gloria is now an Author, Advocate and Survivor: and the woman behind the Global hand signal for under 16’s, released in June 2023, to help resource and protect children from sexual abuse. (Image above)
Gloria is also the founder of Handing the Shame Back foundation, a charity dedicated to survivors of child sexual abuse.
She hosts the YouT
Gloria is now an Author, Advocate and Survivor: and the woman behind the Global hand signal for under 16’s, released in June 2023, to help resource and protect children from sexual abuse. (Image above)
Gloria is also the founder of Handing the Shame Back foundation, a charity dedicated to survivors of child sexual abuse.
She hosts the YouTube and podcast channel of the same name, presenting interviews and resources (including the t/shirt above) designed exclusively for survivors. (This is now in over 80 countries across the world).
invaluable resources
invaluable resources
invaluable resources
Gloria has written some books, a memoir, a guide for survivors and her third book - Keeping kids Safe, a roadmap for teachers, parents and others.
It is an informational guide on how to keep kids safe from abuse and trafficking.
Gloria's purpose in life has become to help others, by shining light onto this darkness through love and humil
Gloria has written some books, a memoir, a guide for survivors and her third book - Keeping kids Safe, a roadmap for teachers, parents and others.
It is an informational guide on how to keep kids safe from abuse and trafficking.
Gloria's purpose in life has become to help others, by shining light onto this darkness through love and humility.
She wants to reach as many survivors as she can to help them feel less alone and traumatised.
Thank you Gloria, for your inspirational work!
https://gloriamasters.com/shop/
Contact Me
Questions or Comments?
Dragonfly Advocacy
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
