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Pinjarra child abuse survivor calls for change to help protect other children

Content Warning: Sexual Assault Casey Allum was just eight-years-old when her stepfather lured her to a cubbyhouse on his farm and assaulted her for the very first time. Her abuser — a middle-aged creep who was well-known in the community — told her to “keep quiet”. He said it was just a “joke”. Ms Allum said the horrifying incident was burned into her brain forever. “I thought he might not try it again ... but he did ... and the next time it went a lot further,” Ms Allum told The West Australian. The courageous 22-year-old follows in the footsteps of Australian of the Year Grace Tame and former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in demanding change. Ms Tame and Ms Higgins have both recently spoken out about sexual assault — demanding immediate action and answers from the country’s politicians. Ms Allum’s abuser had begun to groom her from the age of five. The monster would bribe her with gifts and try to separate her from her brothers. The Pinjarra woman said he was tough on her other siblings, but called her his “favourite”. “We became really close, he was like my adult best friend,” she said. Her abuser would put a chocolate underneath her pillow for her to find every day after school. And give her his spare change. He went on to buy her an $800 laptop when she was aged 10. “He lied to my mum and said it was just second-hand ... but it wasn’t,” she said. Ms Allum recalled how he bought her expensive jewellery. But everything he did had to be a “secret”. The sexual abuse continued for almost half a decade. In Australia one in three girls has experienced some form of sexual abuse before they turn 18. One in seven boys is also sexually assaulted. Between 80 and 90 per cent of these children are sexually assaulted by someone they know. Ms Allum said it robbed her of her childhood. “I can’t even count the amount of times it happened ... it continued for four years,” she said. She said her abuser was on and off in his relationship with her mother. Ms Allum said this meant she would get a “break” from the sexual abuse for a few months. But then it would start again. Her abuser would also call her names and make “creepy” hand gestures to torment her. Ms Allum said the entire ordeal made her “really sad”. “This was someone I trusted ... I was shocked and confused and scared. “I couldn’t understand how someone who had been in my life for so long would hurt me.” Shame prevented Ms Allum from initially speaking up. “I thought it was my fault,” she said. She eventually mustered up the courage when she was 19 to tell her mum. Her mum believed her straight away, but one in three Australians doesn’t believe children when they disclose an assault. Ms Allum said it was important to believe victims. She went on to report the sexual abuse to police. She was given an option to have a female police officer, but said she was still OK with males. “It was very embarrassing ... it was the first time telling anyone in detail ... but he tried his best to make me feel comfortable,” she said. Ms Allum said the entire process of collating statements took about two years but said it was worth it. However, she recalled struggling with her mental health when she knew her abuser was on bail. “I saw him around town and I thought he would do something to me for speaking up,” she said. “I was looking around every corner ... part of me wondered what he’d do if he got me alone. People on child sex charges should not be allowed back into the community before their trial.” Ms Allum was so fearful she became suicidal. “I had a mental breakdown, I quit my job on the spot — which is not something I would do — and I didn’t want to leave my house. “I was taken to the emergency department and hoped to get into the mental health ward at Rockingham, but the beds were full so they just gave me Valium and pamphlets with places to go for help.” She said getting to that point and then being sent away almost cost her her life. Despite adversity, Ms Allum found the strength to continue with the proceedings. Her abuser was jailed last year after pleading guilty. The monster had been the president of a South West bowling club and was even listed as hosting work-experience students for a local high school. “People in power think they can get away with it, but they can’t, not anymore because we won’t stay silent.” Ms Allum said she wanted to regain control of her life. She said it was time for change. “I know the more I talk about it the more I could help.” She said more funding for school prevention programs and teaching children about consent from an early age would help them understand sexual abuse was not normal despite the grooming. “Use the real names of body parts — like penis and vagina and teach children that no one can touch them there,” she said. “They should be taught how to say no and they should be aware of several trusted adults they can go to when they need help.” Ms Allum said it was important for young children to understand there were “no secrets” and they should keep telling their story to people they trust until someone helped them. It comes as child sexual abuse and the mistreatment of women were last week discussed in State Parliament. Nationals MP Jacqui Boydell on Wednesday criticised the “toxic culture” in political organisations after the bullying claims she made in November last year. After the royal commission into child sexual abuse, Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk presented a three-year progress report into the 10-year safety implementation plan. Ms McGurk said the safety of children was a “whole community responsibility”. She said State and local governments had to address systemic issues relating to child safety. However, Ms Allum said not enough was being done and called for Mrs McGurk to meet her. She also pleaded for better mental health services after her shocking experience in the WA health system. Lifeline: 13 11 14

exclusivePinjarra child abuse survivor calls for change to help protect other children

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Pinjarra child abuse survivor calls for change to help protect other children