You are invited: You are invited to take part in a research study on survival, recovery, and growth after clergy sexual abuse experienced from late adolescence (16+) or adulthood, which is being conducted by student Jaime Simpson from the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Science (Discipline of Sociology & Anthropology) at the University of Newcastle. This project forms part of Mrs Jaime Simpson’s doctoral studies, supervised by Dr Kathleen McPhillips and Dr Chris Krogh.
Why is this research being done? The purpose of this research is to explore how survivors define, experience, and articulate their understanding of survival, recovery, and growth. By listening to survivors’ voices, this study aims to better understand survivors’ needs and contribute to more effective, trauma-informed responses in faith communities and support services.
This project's definition of consent: Consent is only valid when it's freely given, informed, and uncoerced. There is no consent when someone participates in the act because of the abuse of a relationship of authority, trust, or dependence overbears the person or participates in the act because of coercion, blackmail or intimidation, regardless of when it occurs or whether it is a single incident or part of an ongoing pattern. This project acknowledges that due to the power imbalance created by spiritual authority, pastoral care roles, and church leadership, a congregation member can not freely give valid consent to a faith leader. We also acknowledge that survivors may use different words to describe what happened. In the survey, you will have the option to define your own experience.
This project's definition of abuse: For this project, the term clergy sexual abuse includes sexual harassment, sexual grooming, sexual coercion, and sexual abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy (such as a pastor, minister, elder, priest, or other recognised faith leader). These behaviours can happen in person, online, or through other forms of communication.
- Sexual abuse may involve unwanted sexual contact, sexualised comments, requests for sexual activity, sexual intercourse, oral sex, sexual touching, or any other behaviour of a sexual nature that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or violated.
- Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that could reasonably be expected to make a person feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated. This can include sexual comments or jokes, suggestive gestures, intrusive questions about your private life, unwanted touching, or sexual advances.
- Sexual grooming refers to behaviours used to gain a person’s trust, lower their defences, and create dependency in order to enable sexual abuse. This might include flattery, excessive attention, secrecy, spiritual manipulation, or exploiting emotional or practical needs.
- Sexual coercion refers to being pressured, manipulated, or forced into sexual activity without genuine, free, and informed consent. This can include using spiritual authority, emotional control, threats, promises, or guilt to obtain compliance.
Inclusion Criteria: This survey is open to English-speaking participants worldwide and in any Christian denomination.
You can take part if: - You are currently aged 18 years or older, and
- You were aged 16 years or older at the time of the abuse, and
- You experienced sexual harassment, sexual grooming, sexual coercion, or sexual abuse by a Christian faith leader (such as a pastor, minister, priest, pastoral therapist, or elder) of any Christian denomination.
Yo
u cannot take part if: - You are under 18 years old now, or
- The abuse occurred and ceased when you were under the age of 16
What will I need to do to participate in this study?You will be asked to complete an anonymous online survey. The survey includes both open- and closed-ended questions about:
- Your experiences of trauma, recovery, and growth after clergy sexual abuse.
- Your views on what has supported or hindered recovery.
- Your reflections on survival, spirituality, relationships, and wellbeing.
The survey includes questions about experiences of sexual harassment, grooming, coercion, or abuse within faith contexts. These questions are not limited to formally recognised clergy or ordained leaders, and may include individuals in informal or non-official leadership roles (e.g., mentors, ministry leaders, pastoral carers, or others in positions of spiritual influence).
The survey also includes an optional section that asks about experiences of abuse during childhood. This section is included to better understand broader life experiences; however, you may skip any questions in the survey you do not wish to answer.
The survey will take about 45 minutes to 60 minutes to complete. Besides the consent questions, you may skip any questions you do not wish to answer.
Did your abuse happen in Australia? If yes, You may also choose to express interest in a confidential, audio-only recorded online interview with our female researcher, Mrs Jaime Simpson, if you would like to share your story in more depth. Any identifying information you provide will be removed before data analysis is undertaken.
What choice do you have? Participation in this project is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time without consequence. If you choose to withdraw, you can do so by closing the survey; any information already submitted will still be stored.
When clicking on the exit survey button, you have the option to go back and review, print or edit your response, and you can remove any response before submitting. As no identifying information is being collected, it will not be possible to remove your data once submitted. Your decision will not affect your relationship with the University, the researcher or any support services.
Before deciding whether to take part, please feel free to read this information carefully, ask questions, or talk it over with someone you trust.
What are the risks and benefits of participating? Some people may feel upset when remembering or thinking about past experiences of abuse and their survival and recovery from. This may include:
- Distressing memories or intrusive thoughts.
- Feelings of grief, anger, betrayal, or injustice.
- Physical or emotional reactions connected to trauma.
If this happens: - Seek support before deciding if you should take part.
- You can skip any question or stop the survey at any time.
- You are encouraged to take breaks and decide whether this is the right time for you to continue.
- This survey is hosted on QuestionPro, a secure online survey platform. If you choose to use the “Save and Continue” option, your responses will be saved as a partial (incomplete) response within the platform. You will receive a unique re-entry link via email that allows you to return to the survey and complete it later. If you return and complete the survey, your responses will be updated and marked as complete. If you do not return, your responses will remain stored as a partial (incomplete) response.
- This survey is anonymous. The QuestionPro platform is configured so that no identifying information (such as your name, email address, or IP address) is collected or accessible to the researcher. The re-entry link is generated automatically by the platform and sent to you via the email you provide, the email address is not visible to the researcher and cannot be used to identify you.
- You can save your progress and return later using a personalised re-entry link generated by the survey software. This link does not collect your IP address or email address.
- Choose how much you want to share.
- There are no mandatory questions apart from the consent questions.
- A list of trauma-informed support services will be provided throughout the survey including:
International:Australia-based: - Lifeline 13 11 14
- Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
- 1800 Respect (Sexual violence and domestic violence support) 1800 737 732
- QLife (LGBTQI Support) 1800 184 527
- 13 Yarn Crisis support for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People 13 92 76
- MensLine 1300 789 978
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