Thank you Mr Stuart Grimley MP, Ms. Tania Maxwell MP and your teams, from our ~13k petitioners, our families and our community, for everything you have achieved this year. Which has included the tabling of our petition in Parliament, and advocating for the outcomes it seeks for all Victorian victim/survivors, their families and communities - more accessible, trauma informed and integrated health and care services and supports, through 'no wrong door.' Your actions have led to the Government finally engaging with us and our supporters, on what will save lives, and reduce pain and suffering for so many, if implemented.

Thank you also for asking the Government to provide full transparency to all Victorians, of the status of progress made, and outcomes achieved, of the implementation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommendations.

And this week, you and your team enabled the creation a LOUD fence at Parliament House, as part of asking the government for an apology to victim/survivors of government institutions, and to act as a model litigant.

Traumatic and violent childhood events are central, primary events that can impact everything else in the lives of victims or survivors, their families and communities. It can be isolating, it can be lonely, it can lead to withdrawal and disconnection.

We are so grateful for Mr. Grimley's actions and generosity this year, which brought together so many of us who started as strangers, but now share a sense of belonging, worth and purpose. All of which is part of healing and creating change, thank you.

“Your connectedness to other people is so key to buffering any current stressor—and to healing from past trauma. Being with people who are present, supportive, and nurturing. Belonging.”
― Bruce D. Perry, What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing.