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Grace Tame
Print2021 Australian of The Year Grace Tame is a survivor and an outspoken advocate for survivors of sexual assault, particularly those who were abused in institutional settings. She has helped to change laws and give hope and a voice to survivors of sexual assault.
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Testimonials for Grace Tame
Grace is such a powerful speaker, very down to earth and relatable. Her words were so meaningful and inspirational to many within our community. She is a true change maker!
University of Queensland
Grace Tame is a speaker that needs to be heard. Her ability to connect with the audience, her openness, vulnerability and fierce passion to create a world that is safer is inspirational. While her keynote may challenge people it is a keynote that should be heard by as many people as possible. She is able to break down some very complex issues into language that allows further discussion and education. She would be an amazing speaker for your event.
MercyCare
Grace's presentation was unflinching and courageous. Her story had a powerful impact on our delegates. We will still be talking about her presentation for many years to come.
ACC Global
Grace engaged our audience with her vulnerability, her truth, humour and exceptional story telling. She has the ability to deal with confronting topics in a way that simultaneously had us laughing in stitches and shedding tears of empathy. She was warmly received with two standing ovations and we are so grateful for the way she uses her platform to raise awareness and to create systemic change in our community. Thank you Grace.
Coalition on Criminal Assault in the Home
Grace Tame is an exceptional individual. Her intelligence, passion and drive for change oozes across. She also has a great sense of humour and delivers her powerful message effortlessly. Grace also engaged with us Territorians and we all felt she fits in well in this town - love to have you back!
No Woman Left Behind Conference
Fee Range: POA
Grace Tame's Biography
2021 Australian of The Year Grace Tame is a survivor and an outspoken advocate for survivors of sexual assault, particularly those who were abused in institutional settings. She has helped to change laws and give hope and a voice to survivors of sexual assault.
At 15 years old, Grace was groomed, stalked, and repeatedly raped by her 58-year-old maths teacher, Nicolaas Bester. He was later convicted and imprisoned.
Grace was, and still is, passionate about educating people about sexual assault and psychological manipulation and their effects on the victims and the victims’ families. Upon working with journalist Nina Funnel, they encountered a Tasmanian sexual assault victim gag law. Under this law, the perpetrator could speak publicly of their crimes. However, sexual abuse survivors, such as Grace, were prohibited from telling their stories and publishing details of their experience.
So, in 2018, they started the #LetHerSpeak campaign. With the aid of this campaign, Grace fought to repeal this law and to give a voice to Tasmanian sexual assault survivors who had been silenced by it.
In 2019, Grace was granted an exemption by the Tasmanian Government. As a result, she became the first female sexual assault survivor in Tasmania to win the right to self-identify in the media.
In 2020, the Tasmanian sexual assault victim gag law was reformed, allowing Tasmanian survivors to share their stories.
In 2021, Grace was named Australian of The Year for her extraordinary bravery and advocacy in raising public awareness on child sexual abuse and grooming.
Grace continues to raise awareness on the impacts of sexual violence. She has previously worked with the Los Angeles Human Trafficking Squad, an elite police squad in the US, to share her experiences and the warning signs of child grooming.
She is a regular guest speaker for high-profile events and uses her platform to advocate for other vulnerable groups in the community.