Former patient of jailed Geelong doctor Joseph Chirawu speaks of traumatic ordeal

A woman who alleged in court she was sexually assaulted by a now jailed Geelong doctor, only for her case to be dismissed, has spoken out for the first time about her traumatic experience.

A former patient of a Geelong doctor has spoken out about the torment of her case being dismissed in court. Picture: Alan Barber

A woman who alleged in court she was sexually assaulted by a now jailed Geelong doctor, only for her case to be dismissed during a five-day trial, has spoken out for the first time about her traumatic experience.

Armstrong Creek mother Briohny De Stefano, who the Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard was the second named victim of Joseph Chirawu during an intense trial in 2022, said she had “finally healed” despite her claims against the doctor not being legally proven.

Chirawu was sent to prison last month for the sexual assault and indecent assault of another female patient that occurred in August 2012 and May 2021 at the Geelong City Medical Clinic.

He was found not guilty of sexually assaulting Ms De Stefano at the same clinic after an incident in August 2020.

Ms De Stefano said despite her case not being proven beyond reasonable doubt in court, she hoped to inspire other women who feel “unheard” to have the courage to speak up about sexual violence.

An alleged victim of a former Geelong doctor has spoken out about the torment of her case being dismissed in court, despite the man being jailed for a similar attack on another woman. Picture: Alan Barber

“I want other women to feel strong enough to know that if they come forward they will be supported and they will still be believed,” she said.

“The discouragement that you get when you first make a statement and go through the system, there seems to be too much of it.

“I want to stop the discouragement, despite what happened to me.”

Dr Chirawu, who was employed at the Ryrie St Geelong City Medical Clinic, has been suspended by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, meaning that he is barred from practising medicine in Australia.

He lost an appeal against his sexual assault conviction and four month jail sentence of the other woman after a four-day hearing in the County Court on March 25.

Geelong doctor Joseph Chirawu who worked at the Geelong City Medical Clinic charged with sexual assault.

A court heard in 2022 that in August 2020, Dr Chirawu had allegedly moved his hands up to Ms De Stefano hair and then down to her waist, had gripped her tight around her ribcage and had rubbed her thigh.

During the appointment, she claimed he pulled their chairs together and put her closed knees between his own legs. He then allegedly put his hand on her outer thigh and “rubbed back and forth”.

The court heard he then apologised to her and his other victim following each incident, either in a recorded phone call or in a letter he wrote.

Dr Chirawu told the court during the trial an apology made in his culture did not mean that he was admitting guilt, and that he was simply finding a way to “open a channel of communication” with the women.

He was found not guilty of sexually assaulting Ms De Stefano.

Her husband, Rob, said he “saw red” during the start of the court process but realised it was important to “be there” for his wife.

Joseph Chirawu.

“It made me feel like I had failed her,” he said.

“But I had to be there for her so she could get through this as painlessly as possible.”

Ms De Stefano said she was glad her former doctor, someone she said her entire family once trusted, would spend time behind bars.

“It’s been a long road,” she said.

“I haven’t let this ruin me.

“It hasn’t broken me.”

She hoped her story would give strength to other women “who are not believed.”

“I think I have grown so much from this and have learnt to stand up for myself,” she said.

“Yes it is hard, yes it is harrowing, but if we can encourage women to come forward and put proper support around them, then things can change.”

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Originally published as Former patient of jailed Geelong doctor Joseph Chirawu speaks of traumatic ordeal