Who is Grace Tame?
Grace Tame was recently named the 2021 Australian of the Year and is most known for being an activist and advocate for survivors of child sexual assault. Grace took her traumatic experience as a teenager and used it as a way to spread awareness and empower other victims to speak out. She was granted a court order in August 2019 allowing her to speak publicly about her abuse in an effort to help others.
Before Grace, Tasmanian law kept victims from speaking about their experiences in public. Grace’s campaign #LetHerSpeak was ultimately what helped change the state’s law. This is so important because she fought for the right to tell her story and refused to be silenced. Grace is an example of someone incredibly dedicated to fighting for justice, not only for herself but for the chance to help other girls and make a difference in their lives.
Grace Tame uses her platform to provide a tremendous amount of support to survivors. She credits the love and genuine support she received from her friends and family with her healing and feels every survivor deserves the same support. Grace had undiagnosed Autism as a child, which made it challenging for her to connect with peers as a child and tween. She wasn’t always surrounded by a great friendship group and was often bullied.
In December 2021, Grace created a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation known as The Grace Tame Foundation, which helps fund initiatives aimed at preventing and responding to sexual abuse. The foundation strives to educate girls so they can recognize signs of grooming and potentially dangerous situations. Grace credits knowledge as the key to avoiding becoming a victim, but she also wants young girls to know the importance of confiding in a trusted adult if a situation does arise.
Photo credit: UN WOMEN