St Michael’s Collegiate sexual abuse survivor finally finds voice – and makes huge change in Tasmania

A child sexual abuse survivor from St Michael’s Collegiate has come forward publicly for the first time – with her words creating huge change in Tasmania. HER POWERFUL MESSAGE>>>

IT TOOK twenty-four years for former St Michael’s Collegiate student Leah Sallese to speak the name of the teacher who sexually abused her as a teenage girl.

But now, after decades of silence, her words are having a massive impact – and even changing laws.

Last month, Ms Sallese – who was abused by gym teacher Raynor Ian Bartsch in the 1990s when she 16 – spoke out against “slut-shaming” and “victim-blaming” by the Tasmanian government when defending civil claims.

Ms Sallese’s name was anonymised in media reports, but as a result of her words, Attorney-General Elise Archer made immediate moves to remove what was described as a “morally repugnant” defence that a victim had consented to their abuse, as a way of striking out historical claims.

Leah Sallese as a student. Picture: supplied by Leah Sallese

Then earlier this week, Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced plans to amend the Criminal Code to introduce a presumption that children under the age of 17 cannot consent to sexual intercourse when a person is in a position of authority over them.

Ms Sallese now wants to put her name to those words that have helped create real change in Tasmania for all victim-survivors.

“In the criminal trial against my perpetrator, my case was called consensual. How can it be consensual when you’re a child, and it’s against the law to have sex with a child?” she said.

“The only thing I did was be a girl, be vulnerable, be naive, and somehow I was wearing the shame and blame … the language needed to change.”

Speaking publicly for the first time, Ms Sallese said she was still angry at Collegiate, which she said had been complicit in Bartsch’s abuse, continuing to employ him for six months after discovering what he’d done.

“It was like being a mouse in a cage with a lion – I had to face him every day.”

Leah Sallese was sexually abused by her gym teacher in the 1990s at St Michael’s Collegiate. She’s now come forward publicly for the first time to tell her story. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Then when the school asked Bartsch to resign, a glowing departure letter was written for him in the school newsletter praising his “vision, enthusiasm and ability” – before he went on to become a principal in a Queensland school.

But Ms Sallese’s studies suffered while she was ridiculed by other students and “put in the too-hard-basket” by the school, with the talented athlete told she couldn’t be sports prefect.

“He had 24 years of a lovely life … he would have been sitting pretty financially, and I was left to rot,” she said.

“He got to go on living his life, and he left me shackled.

“That’s why I’ve worked in a shop for however many years, because I didn’t feel worthy of an education.”

Ms Sallese – who has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and who said she’d used humour to hide her pain – said she’d come forward publicly now to help other survivors “have a voice” and “not suffer in silence anymore”.

“We get shackled with the shame and guilt of things, whereas the person that should be wearing the ball and chain is actually the perpetrator,” she said.

Leah Sallese. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Bartsch was finally jailed for two years in 2017, with eight months suspended – following an “horrific” trial in which Ms Sallese was subjected to hatred and abuse on Facebook from people with comments like “she was asking for it”.

Then in 2021 Ms Sallese successfully sued Collegiate for an undisclosed sum.

But she said “no amount of money will ever make it go away”.

“It’s still a big part of my life. It’s always going to be in my life, always.”

Ms Sallese’s case is the second time a teacher from Collegiate has been jailed for sexually abusing a student, with Nicolaas Bester – who abused Grace Tame – jailed in 2011.

If you or a loved one are struggling, further support is available:

Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14

Beyond Blue – 1300 22 46 36

Rural Alive and Well – 1300 4357 6283

Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800

Follow @ambervwilson

Originally published as St Michael’s Collegiate sexual abuse survivor finally finds voice – and makes huge change in Tasmania