The Athena Project Aus

Last week, I was beyond honoured to stand with survivors at Reclaim the Night in Canberra to address an issue too often silenced: sexual violence in the military. I was honoured to give an address and bring awareness to the work we are doing with The Athena Project Aus as well as the importance of keeping the conversation going, now that the final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been released.   “Defence culture has an unspoken rule—sexual violence is too uncomfortable to talk about. For too long, it’s been hidden in shame. But that silence, and that shame, ends now.”   At The Athena Project Aus we’re creating space for veterans, Defence members, and all survivors to reclaim their voices, their stories, and their power.   “The ADF has a critical issue with sexual violence, and it’s time we stopped pretending otherwise. No more sweeping it under the rug. Survivors have nothing to be ashamed about—the shame belongs with those who failed to protect them.”   This message isn’t just for Defence Australia —it’s for our entire community. Everyone has a role in creating safe, supportive spaces for survivors. Together, we can break the silence and build a future where all veterans can share their truth without fear of stigma.   “To every survivor listening—especially my fellow veterans—you are not alone. We see you, we believe you, and we stand firmly beside you. Together, we will reclaim our power and transform our pain into strength.”   I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre for organising this vital event. It was also incredibly inspiring to meet other amazing advocates in person and fan girl over the fact I was included in such incredible company; Sarah Rosenberg With You We Can Laura Rowe Lydia Corcoran Josh B. ! Also was incredible to catch up with beautiful Athena Community members in person both at the event and around Canberra; Donna Manton & Nikki Coleman!   A reminder to stand with survivors. Let’s create a culture that uplifts, supports, and empowers. We deserve better.   #TheAthenaProject #ReclaimTheNight #BelieveSurvivors #EndTheSilence

I will be taking some time to recover from the intensity and stress of the last month since the release of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Please be patient with me at this time. I too am navigating mental health battles that are often debilitating. I am tired and I am hurting. I have fought tirelessly over the last month attempting to bring awareness to the Royal Commission with multiple media engagements. Media is not an area I am overly confident in and I am still new to this space. On this occasion my commentary has neglected the critical focus of the devastating experience of veteran suicide to those within the Australian Defence community. 💔 #statement #theathenaproject #royalcommission

Hey lovely LinkedIn fam, It's that time of the month again... No, not 'that' time, but time for our The Athena Project Aus Monthly Meetup! 🤍 I’m beyond excited to see your faces, catch up, learn from one another, and—of course—share a few laughs along the way! 😂 If you want to join us, make sure to register here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gA-Mf5WU. Having trouble registering? No worries! Just shoot me a message, and I’ll send you the direct meeting link. This is hands down one of my favourite days of the month, so I can’t wait to see all of you there! 💫

A one year extension on the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was rejected by the Australian Government which means military sexual violence in Defence Australia could not be fully investigated. With the Final Report now out, we are calling for Recommendation 25; a formal INDEPENDENT inquiry into experiences of military sexual violence, to be agreed to and commenced with urgency. The Athena Project Aus #theathenaproject #supportsurvivors #military #donatetoday

As the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has now been released, myself and The Athena Project Aus stand at this critical moment for our community. This report sheds light on the deeply ingrained issues affecting so many of us, particularly in the areas of sexual and gender-based violence within service. For those of us who have lived these experiences, this is not just a report—it’s validation of years of suffering, systemic failure, and a call for accountability. Now is the time for real action, healing, and justice. At the Athena Project, we will continue to amplify the voices of veteran survivors and advocate for systemic change, ensuring these findings lead to meaningful outcomes - particularly in relation to the 14 recommendations that specifically address military sexual trauma. This is only the beginning, and I am committed to being part of the solution. #RoyalCommission #Veterans #JusticeForSurvivors #AthenaProject

Yesterday was the ceremonial closing of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Whilst I was unable to be there in person yesterday, I felt surrounded by support with the dozens of messages I received from our beautiful community. This may be the beginning of the final chapter of the Royal Commission, ahead of the official Report being released next month - but it is not the end. This is not the time to stop listening and tune out, it is actually time to increase the volume of veteran voices and increase your own knowledge. The Athena Project Aus released a reel this week, amplifying some of the submissions and voices of veteran victim survivors. Our plan is to make more of these, to lift the veil on the reality of lived experiences of veteransurvivors and why the findings - and critically the recommendations of the Commission - need to be taken seriously and implemented with urgency. For too long, the experiences of veterans and defence community members has been shrouded in silence and secrecy, but it is our duty to now shine the light on them and allow them to be seen, heard and believed. Veterans need YOU to amplify our voices and take us forward. If you want to help, read the reports, stay up to date on releases and the news, invite us to talk to your workplaces, employ us and talk to your own networks to increase awareness. Listen with empathy, engage with earnestness and act with thoughtfulness. It is everyone’s responsibility, not just ours as the veteran community to advocate for change. https://lnkd.in/g42MXMja #veterans #veteranvoices #royalcommission #auspol

My journey as the Founder of The Athena Project Aus over the last 18 months has been nothing short of amazing. But, it has also been challenging, filled with tears of happiness, sadness, and frustration, and consistently tumultuous. When you put your entire heart and soul into making your visions a reality, it can be incredibly taxing, not just emotionally, but physically. In saying this, I would do it all over again if it meant getting to where we are today and the impact, albeit small for now, that we are having within our veteran survivor community. I have been reflecting of late, on some of the stats that make me incredibly proud: ✨ We have grown from a team of one to now have a team of seven who all volunteer their time and expertise to keep The Athena Project Aus running behind the scenes. ✨ Our monthly community meetups, which started in March 2024, have welcomed over 50 attendees. ✨ We’ve had over 180 expressions of interest for our volunteer advocate network, which will help us cover every state and territory once we have the funding to kick start the program. ✨ We’ve received 245 (and counting) brave disclosures from veterans, both current and past serving, who’ve shared their stories with us. We have been doing all of this and much, much more, without any funding. This is the reason for my post today. During this journey, I have been connecting with an incredible community of people, who I am hoping can now assist me. Something I have learned the hard way in this adventure is that grants are difficult to win, and they also do not cover the day-to-day running costs of a charity. For that reason, I am reaching out to my LinkedIn network, crafted not only from my recent jump into the not-for-profit sector, but a brief stint in the corporate world at Deloitte, and most notably, my time in Royal Australian Air Force and Defence Australia. We need your support to continue providing our services free of charge to those who need them most. If you or someone you know can assist with donations, sponsorships, or corporate partnerships, it would mean the world to us and the veterans we support. If you could please consider sharing this post with your networks, philanthropic individuals, and organisations who might be able to help, it would truly make such a difference, not only for me, but the entire Athena Team and Community. I want to continue this work and grow the movement for change for our veteran survivors across Australia. Unfortunately, I can't do this without the generosity of others. I would love to talk to anyone who may be interested in exploring how they can support The Athena Project Aus and join us on this journey. I am beyond grateful for my role in growing #TeamAthena, and I hope that, in time and with the help of others, we will make an even greater impact. Deloitte Women in Defence AssociationRoyal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Women In Defence Australia Frontline Labs Australia FrontLine Australia