Craic On Foundation

22/08/2026

💚What Everyone Needs to Know About Child Sexual Abuse - number 7

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When a Child Says Something Happened - Believing Them Matters

At Craic On Foundation, we believe every child deserves to be heard, respected, and supported.

When a child shares something difficult, the response they receive can have a lasting impact. A child who is not believed may feel alone, confused, afraid, or may begin to question their own experiences and whether their voice matters.

Believing a child does not mean making assumptions or reaching conclusions without understanding the situation. It means listening carefully, responding with compassion, taking their concerns seriously, and creating a safe space where they feel supported.

When children are dismissed, blamed, or ignored, they may become less likely to speak up when they need help. A caring and supportive response from adults can help children feel valued, protected, and empowered.

Craic On Foundation is committed to helping create environments where children feel safe to speak, safe to be heard, and safe to seek support.
Every child deserves to be listened to. Every child deserves safety. Every child deserves a voice.

At Craic On Foundation, we believe that education protects children, supports survivors, and helps prevent abuse. Together, we can build a safer future for every child. 💚

Kathleen Walsh
Craic On Foundation

21/08/2026

I AM NOT A POLITICAL FOOTBALL

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I’m tired of the political sayings, slogans and photo opportunities.
Victims are not your political pawns. They are not your fodder. They are not your next photo opportunity, your next headline or your next slogan.

They are real people. I am a real person.

They are people whose lives have been changed forever. People who deserve better than being used as political footballs while politicians argue over who is “listening” to them.

We keep hearing that victims are being listened to. Really?

Because every day, I hear from victims who tell me the exact opposite.

They make the report to police. They endure lengthy investigations. If they are fortunate enough to see charges laid, they then face the bail process.

Then comes the lengthy court process.

And when they finally get to trial, they can find themselves having to explain and defend their reactions, their behaviour and their trauma to people who may have little understanding of how trauma affects victims.

At times, it can feel like the victim is the one on trial - rather than the perpetrator.

And then there is my own experience.

The pa******le who abused me was Catholic Church priest Neville Joseph Creen. I was his 22nd “conviction”. Not 22nd victim but 22nd time he had been found guilty.

I then had to sit there and listen to a judge being told that he was a “good person in the community.”

A good person.

The man who destroyed my childhood and changed the course of my entire life.

And after everything he did, after the damage and trauma he caused, he received 90 days in jail.

Ninety days.

He got 90 days. I got a lifetime.

So I’ll save politicians the trouble of coming up with another slogan - because I’m not your next slogan or photo op.

He always gets bail.
He got all the support.
He was put on a pedestal with his “good character.”
He got 90 days.
I got a lifetime.

Queensland politicians have not abolished good character references. They have limited their use.
But seriously - since when should someone who has sexually abused a child be able to rely on arguments about what a “good” person they are in the community?

A person can volunteer. They can have friends. They can have a good job. They can be respected by their neighbours.

None of that erases sexually abusing a child.

Victims don’t need another slogan.

They don’t need another photo opportunity.

They don’t need politicians telling them they are being heard while their lived experience tells them otherwise.

They need meaningful reform. They need a justice system that understands trauma. They need accountability. They need to be believed, supported and treated with dignity.

Most importantly, they need politicians to stop using their pain as political fodder and start doing the hard work required to actually make the system better.

Victims are people - not political footballs.

And I can tell you from personal experience:

The perpetrator got 90 days.
I got a lifetime.

That is not justice.

Kathleen Walsh
Craic On Foundation








David Crisafulli MP

21/08/2026

Today, a victim of child sexual abuse was heard.

I asked her what outcome she wanted, and her answer was simple: a conviction.

From there, we worked closely together, focusing on what she needed - not what anyone else thought she should want.

Today, she accepted a plea to three charges, with 2 lesser charges dismissed, and most importantly, she got the outcome she had asked for: a GUILTY conviction.

She heard the word “GUILTY” said over and over.

After 30 years, she saw justice.

And the statistics show just how extraordinary that moment is.

According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), only 7% of reported historic sexual-assault incidents resulted in a proven charge.
Put another way: out of every 100 historic sexual-assault incidents reported, only around 7 resulted in a proven charge.

That means 93 out of every 100 reported incidents did not result in a proven charge.

Behind every statistic is a person. A survivor. A life impacted. A journey that can span decades.

That is why today matters.

She has travelled a long, hard journey, and today was hers.

It was an absolute privilege to be asked to support her, to work alongside her, to listen to what she wanted, and to help her on this journey.

Today, she was heard.
Today, she was seen.
Today, after 30 years, she heard the word GUILTY.

Today, she got justice. ❤️

18/08/2026

Tonight, after finishing with a client, they said to me, “Thank you for helping me.”
Those words stayed with me.

It’s difficult to put into words what it means to be trusted by someone when they are at their most vulnerable. To be invited into someone’s life, to hear their story, to sit with them through difficult moments, and to support them without judgement is not something I ever take for granted.

For me, it isn’t simply a job or a service. It is a privilege.

At Craic On Foundation, we understand that asking for help can take enormous courage. And when someone chooses to trust us, we want them to know that their story matters, their dignity matters, and they matter.

So tonight, I’m grateful - not just that I was able to help, but that I was trusted enough to be there.

Sometimes, the biggest privilege is simply being allowed to walk beside someone when they need it most. ❤️

16/08/2026

Still an Australian Catholic Church bishop.

Saunders, who is still listed on official church websites as "Bishop Emeritus of Broome" and as the "most Rev Christopher Saunders", having never been stripped of his titles, protested his innocence throughout.

The jury, however, thought otherwise, and convicted him of 13 charges.

Bishop Christopher Saunders remains one of the most senior Catholic clergymen, despite being convicted this week of multiple counts of sexual assault.This is how his downfall unfolded.

16/08/2026

With Hello Townsville – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

15/08/2026

💚What Everyone Needs to Know About Child Sexual Abuse - number 6.

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The lifelong impact of childhood sexual abuse - and why support matters at every stage

Child sexual abuse does not end when the abuse ends. For many historical victims and survivors, the effects can continue throughout adulthood, especially when their experiences were ignored, dismissed, hidden, or met with a lack of support.

Many survivors carry the impact in ways that are not always visible. This may include difficulties with trust, relationships, self-worth, emotional wellbeing, physical health, and feeling safe in the world. Some spend years trying to understand experiences they were never given the opportunity to process.

A lack of recognition, accountability, or support can create additional harm. When survivors are not believed, listened to, or provided with appropriate care, it can deepen feelings of isolation and make healing more difficult.

Craic On Foundation recognises the importance of raising awareness, supporting conversations, and standing alongside survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Historical victims and survivors deserve to be heard, respected, and supported - not only when they first disclose their experiences, but throughout their lives.

Supporting survivors means acknowledging the lasting impact of abuse, challenging the silence and stigma that often surrounds it, and helping create communities where people feel safe to seek understanding and support.

Every survivor’s journey is unique. Their voices matter. Their experiences matter. Their need for compassion, recognition, and support matters.

By speaking openly and educating others, we can help break the silence and contribute to a safer, more supportive future for survivors and future generations.

At Craic On Foundation, we believe that education protects children, supports survivors, and helps prevent abuse. Together, we can build a safer future for every child. 💚

Kathleen Walsh

07/05/2026

FINALIST
Honoured and incredibly grateful to be nominated and a Finalist for the 2026 Volunteer of the Year Award at the Volunteering North Queensland 2026 Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Volunteering has always been about giving back to the community, supporting others, and making a positive difference wherever possible. I’m proud to be part of the amazing work happening through the Craig’s On Foundation and alongside so many passionate volunteers across North Queensland.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported, encouraged, and inspired me along the way. Congratulations to all the nominees — the work you do for our communities truly matters. 💛
NationalVolunteerWeek

28/04/2026

It’s out now…..

24/04/2026