Understanding the journey for males who have experienced child sexual abuse

Presented by Professor Patrick O’Leary, Co-Lead Disrupting Violence Research Beacon, Griffith University and Phil Morgan, Adult Survivor, Forgotten Australian/Care Leaver

Save your spot at Webinar 7 as part of the Bright Futures FREE webinar series where we are joined by Professor Patrick O’Leary and Phil Morgan as they discuss the journey for males who have experienced child sexual abuse and how we can (and should) hold the lived experience and professional expertise in partnership.

About the presenters

Professor Patrick O’Leary Co-Lead Disrupting Violence Research Beacon, Griffith University

Professor Patrick O’Leary, is an internationally recognised researcher and has significant expertise in domestic violence/gender-based violence (with a focus on perpetrator intervention, integrated, differential, and intersectional responses), child protection, long-term impact of child sexual abuse (especially for men), social work, hope, and socially excluded young people. His work has focused on these issues in both high and low income countries. Professor O’Leary’s work has influenced international domestic violence and child protection policy and practice. Currently he serves on numerous boards and advisory positions in the government and non-government sectors including being on Advisory Group for National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse for the Australian Government.

Professor O’Leary was commissioned as an Expert Academic Advisor to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and is the Chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee for Survivors and Mates Support Network (SAMSN) a lead national organization supporting male survivors of child sexual abuse and a non-executive board member of DVConnect. Recently he was a member of successful team for an Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence on the Elimination of Violence Against Women to commence in late 2023 for seven years.

Phil Morgan Adult Survivor, Forgotten Australian/Care Leaver

Phil Morgan is a survivor of a number of traumatic childhood traumas and sexual abuses including an abduction and rape at the age of 14 by two male strangers. He has lived experience with the ongoing trauma of Forced Adoption and is a Forgotten Australian/Care Leaver. Phil has so far received 8 apologies in total from the Federal Government and NSW State Government including from Institutions for the sexual abuse he experienced as a child in their care. Phil contributed to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and also the Royal Commission into Disabilities after being diagnosed with an invisible disability of severe complex trauma. Phil has been a guest speaker for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and the NSW Parliament.

Over the years Phil himself has built a very strong and supportive recovery network that continues to support him, this network includes SAMSN Survivors and Mates Support Network, Wattle Place, CLAN Care Leavers Australia Network, Full Stop Australia 24/7 trauma support and the Blue Knot Foundation. Phil is also a Senior Supervisor working for NSW Health and has been serving the people of NSW for over 35 years in a number of different roles. Phil has won awards within his workplace for his Leadership and for going over and above when working with clients. He is the father of two incredible sons and husband to his loving and supportive wife of 24 years.