Grace Tame and Jess Hill speak at Adelaide Writers’ Week

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has told an Adelaide Writers’ Week panel that there needs to be a shift in how we teach the language of sexual assault.

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has taken to the stage at Adelaide Writers’ Week, calling for better education about the language surrounding sexual assault.

Giving a talk on Wednesday afternoon titled The Reckoning, with Australian journalist and author Jess Hill, Ms Tame said a language barrier in part contributed to what she called an “ecosystem of abuse”.

“That’s what really inspired me to pursue a different kind of advocacy because I thought, ’Why am I learning about this word (grooming) for the first time seven years after I’ve gone through this experience?’” she said.

Grace Tame talks about her experience at Writers Week during the Adelaide Festival. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Grace Tame with co-panellist Jess Hill. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“When you go through a crime … we’re sort of equipped with the vocabulary to explain what happened to us.

“You know, like if you are stabbed for instance, you can say I was stabbed. This is what happened. These were the circumstances and then we also have the skill set to then ask for help – the appropriate help – but that’s certainly not what I had.”

Ms Tame is on a new mission to eliminate the word “relationship” from criminal proceedings against accused child sex abusers. She seeks to rid courts of language that “sanitises” the rape of children.

Ms Tame is advocating through her Grace Tame Foundation, which supports victims of child sexual abuse.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s infamous January meeting with Grace Tame at the Lodge in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Ms Tame said she had faced criticism but did not let it get to her.

She said whenever she needed self-belief she drew on the moment she first confronted her abuser.

“I told him I thought he was a monster and I told him that I thought he was pure evil and I hoped he died,” she said. “I told him that I will always remember. So my fear of upsetting the applecart died that day and it sure as hell died publicly standing next to Scott Morrison.”

Ms Tame faced criticism for scowling at the PM when she attended an Australia Day function at The Lodge.