George Williams, Geoff Hassall and Paige Duggan are facilitating a series of six workshops called Words Out throughout February and March at the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute as part of the Continuous Voices project.

Continuous Voices connects trauma and creativity to take a stand against sexual assault and sexual abuse.

Other art sessions including photography, sculpture and drawing are also being held for survivors, using creative collaboration to determine the shape and space of a reflective memorial in Ballarat.

Words Out facilitator George Williams said the sessions would be a comfortable space to connect with others and the creation would be based on what the participants shared.

"The arts allows us another space to address trauma," she said.

"When we make something it becomes something that is outside ourselves and we can step back and observe.

"That is a real change for people who may have trauma experience which is going around and around almost like a loop inside them."

Geoff Hassall said music had an incredible power.

"Just by mucking around with music, taking their words and putting it to music then turning it into song draws it out. It is out there and no longer running around inside you, robbing you of peace in your life," he said.

"People have carried this awful secret which wasn't their fault. We are at a point now where that is changing... They will be heard, they will be believed."

RELATED COVERAGE: Hope for lasting memorial to abuse survivors

City of Ballarat launched Continuous Voices in April 2020, with funding allocated to support a community-led project.

The aim is to develop a memorial site to acknowledge all sexual abuse survivors through trauma-integrated arts activities.

Ms Williams said this was a 'vital moment' for people in the community to have their say and explore what that memorial should be.

She said the process of designing the memorial was becoming a part of the city's recovery and change.

"The memorial is an opportunity to draw a line in the sand, to intentionally choose something much better for the future of Ballarat while reflecting on and acknowledging the past," Ms Williams said.

"As one survivor said, abuse of this kind often happens in private, recovery can only happen in community."

Ms Williams said using the arts was a powerful way to collect inspiration.

"It goes beyond conversation. It takes it into something that is beyond words," she said.

"It is the power of hearing survivors articulate something that hasn't been safe to articulate."

Mr Hassall said music engaged the whole brain, worked on the central nervous system and every part of being.

"It is not just the logical thinking part or the memory part, it is the whole being. It works on your soul," he said.

The Centre Against Sexual Assault will provide support in the workshops and ongoing in the community.

Ms Williams, Ms Duggan and Mr Hassall have undergone training on trauma and worked in health and well-being in the past.

Survivors of sexual assault and their family members can sign up for either mixed group or women's group Words Out sessions on Eventbrite.

Visit creativeballarat.com.au/continuousvoices for full details of all creative sessions. Anyone who has been impacted by abuse is encouraged to take part.

Affected by this story? There is help available.You can phone the Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault, in Sebastopol, on 5320 3933, or free-call the crisis care line 24 hours on 1800 806 292. Or phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380, or Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277.

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