How Evie Clayton’s harrowing experience took her on a journey to advocacy

A Townsville sexual assault survivor has stepped up to be the voice of change as she continues her work in the DV sector. Read how she is using her platform to fight for positive change.

A young Townsville advocate has opened up about her own experiences with sexual assault as she uses her platform to boost awareness and support for survivors to create discussion on how Australians can create safer spaces.

At 21-years-old Evie Clayton has had a whirlwind journey to become the strong young woman she is today after experiencing sexual assault and growing up in crowded housing while her mum fought to keep a roof over their heads.

But through her journey as a survivor and her recent work in the domestic and family violence sector she has been able to step up to be a voice of change.

“If we could talk about it (gendered violence) as openly as we talk about youth crime then we would have a whole new space for change,” Ms Clayton said.

Ms Clayton is one of many women drawing attention to the gendered violence currently plaguing Australia as 36 women have already lost their lives this year because of men’s violence against women.

These issues are also very prominent within the Townsville community with the Townsville Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Unit said that police are also responding to between 35 to 50 DV-related call outs every day.

Queensland Police services statistics also show that last year Townsville police made 760 sexual offence arrests in 2023, with 192 already made this year.

Evie Clayton is an advocate for sexual assault and domestic and family violence survivors. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Ms Clayton’s journey to advocacy was not an easy one though and began after a harrowing experience set her on the new path.

In 2021, she attended the Richmond races and was drugged and raped by a stranger who would never be brought to justice after a police investigation was unable to discover the identity of the man.

That night she found herself alone in a hospital but after being connected with a social worker over the phone she didn’t feel completely lost during one of the hardest moments of her life.

“I was linked in with SART (Sexual assault response team) from the women’s centre when it happened and I met the best social worker I’ve ever met in my whole life and I just clicked with her and stuck with her,” Ms Clayton said.

“I stuck with her for a few years and she kind of helped throw me into the (advocacy) space because she could see the potential in me to use my voice.”

A 2023 report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that one in five women have experienced sexual violence.

Ms Clayton found her purpose through her advocacy work and discovered that by connecting with victims and survivors of rape and mens violence against women, she could assist them in their own journeys.

She also began to attend rallies and ceremonies, participate in panels about legislation changes and become an ambassador for National Survivors day which recognises the courage of sexual assault and abuse survivors, their supporters and whistleblowers annually on November 12.

“I just use what happened to me and make it into a positive thing and create a safe space for other people … I just wanted to create a safe space for people and be someone that people can reach out to and talk to and that’s what I’ve created,” she said

“I am privileged in that sense too, I am a white young female with the rest of my life ahead of me so I do get this time to speak but there are so many other deserving people in this space too.

“It really upsets me when I see how many women are dying each day including elderly and disabled and Indigenous Australian and there is just silence.”

Ms Clayton credits her mother as one of her main inspirations as she worked tirelessly to keep a roof over their heads as they moved around overcrowded demountable buildings and government housing.

“My mum has always come out on top and even though we had our ups and downs, we both came out together and she still kept a roof over my head and looked after me and looked after herself; she did the best she could with what she was given,” Ms Clayton said.

Ms Clayton said that while enacting large-scale change is a complex issue, taking small steps in the right direction is vital in the fight against gendered violence.

“The biggest thing is I want people to believe survivors and just show up and support this space,” she said.

“Any events about women’s safety or stopping violence, people need to show up because I’m sick of talking to sector workers, they don’t need to hear about it they already know,’’ she said.

“I find those events very empowering but I also leave with a sense of ‘what have I actually achieved here’ because I’m not speaking to the right people.

“For the women that come to the event I love that because they can speak up, they’re in a safe environment and it’s really good for them to see what services are out there to get help but the people who need to be involved in making change never show up and it’s really disappointing.”

NQ events in May

Candlelight & art exhibition ’through her eyes’ (Burdekin) May 15

Safer families (Ingham) May 18

Hope stars annual fundraiser for NQDVRS – May 19

Rainbow Yoga on LGBTQ DFV awareness day – May 28

Domestic abuse helplines

Womensline: 1800 811 811

MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24hr helpline: 1800 RESPECT

Lifeline: 13 1144

Family Violence Crisis and Support Service: 1800 608 122

Emergency/Police: 000

Originally published as How Evie Clayton’s harrowing experience took her on a journey to advocacy