Stories

Sharing stories of childhood trauma takes enormous courage. It can also be transformative, helping lay a foundation for the journey towards healing and justice.

Part 1 Lived Experience – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

At least 96% of people who have been sexually abused as children were known to their abuser. Chris and Barbara discuss the fact that most of the time a child's abuser is known to them.

Part 2 Lived Experience – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris and Barbara discuss the resilience and strength of survivors and reiterate that victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse did nothing wrong. 

Part 1 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris discuss the reasons they chose to seek justice via the legal system, and the importance of being believed and having your trauma recognised.

Part 2 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris Coombe, offer general tips to prepare survivors who want to come forward. They emphasise that no survivor should feel pressured to share their story.

Part 3 Justice Seeking – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris Coombes and Barbara know that survivors need to feel seen, and acknowledge that people decide to commence legal action for different reasons.

Part 4 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris Coombes and Barbara discuss the process and length of going through the civil legal system when seeking justice.

Ongoing Impacts of Childhood Sexual Abuse – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris discuss the traumatic impacts and interpersonal, professional and personal barriers caused by childhood sexual abuse.

Ongoing Impacts of Childhood Sexual Abuse – Part 2 – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris and Barbara, discuss the ongoing impacts of childhood sexual abuse. They acknowledge that there is no linear path.

Legacy – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

1 in 3 adults say they would not believe a child if they disclosed sexual abuse. Barbara and Chris discuss the importance of showing up for, and believing, children when they share trauma.

Healing on the Govvy Dime – Chris Coombes’ poem

Our Lived Experience Lead, Chris Coombes, shares his poem about his own experience as a child that he wrote while applying for Redress.

Walking with First Nations peoples in support of a national truth-telling process

This Reconciliation Week, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting First Nations peoples in their call for a national truth-telling process and meaningful structural reform. 

The Littlest Flower – written by Wren Jennings, survivor of childhood abuse

There’s no “right” way to tell your story. At Knowmore, we honour every survivor’s story — however it is told.

WA Stolen Generations: Our Perth team discuss how they can help

The WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme has been a long time coming. Knowmore is here to support survivors and families through the process.

Sean & Chris talk about making a submission to the 2025 National Redress Inquiry

Your story matters — and Parliament is listening. A new inquiry into the National Redress Scheme has begun, and survivors are encouraged to share their experiences.

Aunty Glendra & Chris Coombes talk lived experience

Aunty Glendra, and Chris Coombes discuss the importance of lived experience at Knowmore

Part 1 Lived Experience – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

At least 96% of people who have been sexually abused as children were known to their abuser. Chris and Barbara discuss the fact that most of the time a child's abuser is known to them.

Part 2 Lived Experience – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris and Barbara discuss the resilience and strength of survivors and reiterate that victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse did nothing wrong. 

Part 1 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris discuss the reasons they chose to seek justice via the legal system, and the importance of being believed and having your trauma recognised.

Part 2 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris Coombe, offer general tips to prepare survivors who want to come forward. They emphasise that no survivor should feel pressured to share their story.

Part 3 Justice Seeking – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris Coombes and Barbara know that survivors need to feel seen, and acknowledge that people decide to commence legal action for different reasons.

Part 4 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris Coombes and Barbara discuss the process and length of going through the civil legal system when seeking justice.

Ongoing Impacts of Childhood Sexual Abuse – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris discuss the traumatic impacts and interpersonal, professional and personal barriers caused by childhood sexual abuse.

Ongoing Impacts of Childhood Sexual Abuse – Part 2 – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris and Barbara, discuss the ongoing impacts of childhood sexual abuse. They acknowledge that there is no linear path.

Legacy – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

1 in 3 adults say they would not believe a child if they disclosed sexual abuse. Barbara and Chris discuss the importance of showing up for, and believing, children when they share trauma.

Healing on the Govvy Dime – Chris Coombes’ poem

Our Lived Experience Lead, Chris Coombes, shares his poem about his own experience as a child that he wrote while applying for Redress.

The Littlest Flower – written by Wren Jennings, survivor of childhood abuse

There’s no “right” way to tell your story. At Knowmore, we honour every survivor’s story — however it is told.

Aunty Glendra & Chris Coombes talk lived experience

Aunty Glendra, and Chris Coombes discuss the importance of lived experience at Knowmore

Knowmore’s Elder in Residence, Aunty Glendra, discusses the importance of lived experience

Knowmore's Aunty Glendra discusses her passion for making a difference and her dedication to keeping children out of care and with their families.

Knowmore’s Lived Experience Lead, Chris Coombes, discusses lived experience

Chris is proud to be part of the Knowmore leadership team and draw on their lived experience to meaningfully inform policy and practice change.

Laura and Warren – Survivor stories

Laura and Warren’s experiences of abuse as children has had an impact they still carry as adults. Through justice seeking, they’ve been able to hold their perpetrators to account.

Part 1 Lived Experience – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

At least 96% of people who have been sexually abused as children were known to their abuser. Chris and Barbara discuss the fact that most of the time a child's abuser is known to them.

Part 2 Lived Experience – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris and Barbara discuss the resilience and strength of survivors and reiterate that victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse did nothing wrong. 

Part 1 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris discuss the reasons they chose to seek justice via the legal system, and the importance of being believed and having your trauma recognised.

Part 2 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris Coombe, offer general tips to prepare survivors who want to come forward. They emphasise that no survivor should feel pressured to share their story.

Part 3 Justice Seeking – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris Coombes and Barbara know that survivors need to feel seen, and acknowledge that people decide to commence legal action for different reasons.

Part 4 Justice Seeking – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris Coombes and Barbara discuss the process and length of going through the civil legal system when seeking justice.

Ongoing Impacts of Childhood Sexual Abuse – Survivor Experiences with Barb & Chris

Barbara and Chris discuss the traumatic impacts and interpersonal, professional and personal barriers caused by childhood sexual abuse.

Ongoing Impacts of Childhood Sexual Abuse – Part 2 – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

Chris and Barbara, discuss the ongoing impacts of childhood sexual abuse. They acknowledge that there is no linear path.

Legacy – Survivors Experiences with Barb & Chris

1 in 3 adults say they would not believe a child if they disclosed sexual abuse. Barbara and Chris discuss the importance of showing up for, and believing, children when they share trauma.

Healing on the Govvy Dime – Chris Coombes’ poem

Our Lived Experience Lead, Chris Coombes, shares his poem about his own experience as a child that he wrote while applying for Redress.

Walking with First Nations peoples in support of a national truth-telling process

This Reconciliation Week, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting First Nations peoples in their call for a national truth-telling process and meaningful structural reform. 

WA Stolen Generations: Our Perth team discuss how they can help

The WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme has been a long time coming. Knowmore is here to support survivors and families through the process.

Aunty Glendra & Chris Coombes talk lived experience

Aunty Glendra, and Chris Coombes discuss the importance of lived experience at Knowmore

Knowmore UNBELIEVABLE Campaign

Knowmore CEO, Jackie Mead, discusses our recent UNBELIEVABLE Campaign, and the incredible support we have had from the public for our petition.

Knowmore’s Jackie Mead and Gary Oliver discuss the redress support we offer people in prisons

An update on how Knowmore is helping people in prisons seek redress for childhood institutional sexual abuse