Radio presenter David McCarthy to lead state first service for gay male sexual abuse victims

A man who was sexually abused as a student at a top Melbourne private school will help lead the state’s first support network for gay male survivors of sexual assault.

David McCarthy has helped develop "Not Alone" Victoria's first-ever support service for gay male survivors of sexual abuse. Picture: X

A former private boys school sexual abuse victim will help pioneer the state’s first-ever support service for gay male survivors of child sex abuse — a demographic he says has been “left in the dark” for too long.

More than 50 years after former Trinity College student David “Macca” McCarthy was sexually assaulted twice by a teacher at the school, he, alongside fellow survivor Chris Thwaites, helped develop Not Alone — the state’s inaugural platform dedicated to helping gay males who were sexually assaulted as children.

It comes as the pair spent several years advocating for a platform to help homosexual child victims of sexual assault in Victoria, before joining forces with Sexual Assault Services Victoria which will host the “groundbreaking” program.

David McCarthy (right) has advocated for more support services for gay male victims of sexual assault for years. Picture: X

He said the topic was still “taboo” for gay males abused as kids, with many survivors “unrepresented” in data and unsure of where to get help.

“Most people really struggle with their sexual abuse for the rest of their lives and for gay men and boys to abused by another male really is paradoxical,” he said.

“The guilt that survivors feel only multiplies.

“The fact is nothing exists in Victoria and there’s really no data, so we’ve really blazed a trail for these survivors.”

The Not Alone program will run online for eight weeks from February 20, involving senior counsellor advocates from various sexual assault groups.

Feedback from the pilot will be used to lobby for more funding and to expand the program.

SASVic chief executive Kathleen Maltzahn said the program would help victims “make sense of their experiences and connect with other survivors”.

“I think gay men who are survivors can sometimes have this sense that people think ‘maybe (the assault) is why you’re gay’ so to be able to talk to other gay men about their experiences and not feel like they have to hide their sexuality I hope will give them that sense of coming home,” she said.

SASVic chief executive Kathleen Maltzahn says the Not Alone program will connect gay male survivors of sexual abuse.

It comes as the 2019 Private Lives survey conducted nationally by La Trobe University found 34 per cent of gay male respondents had experienced sexual assault.

Data from Crime Statistics Agency revealed Victoria Police recorded 3429 offences of sexual offences against children in the 12 months to September 2024 — about 65 per week.

Mr McCarthy said he was motivated to help start Not Alone after he received an influx of messages after he came forward about his traumatic experience during his radio program on

LGBTQIA+ radio station JOY 94.9 in 2017.

“The overwhelming majority of those messages were from gay men and I thought about how other gay men can get support and how we needed to tailor a program for gay male survivors,” he said.

“Survivors want to be heard but want to be able to make their life a little better and understand what and why it happened to them and understand they’re not alone.

“Most victims don’t tell anyone and to be able to tell people is a big thing.”

Those looking to enquire about the group can ring Eastern CASA on 9870 7330 and request to speak with intake (available Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).

Information about the group can also be found on the SASVic website.