Australian Center for the Moving Image Workshop, Melbourne, Australia; February 2006

How did you feel about using digital video as a way to craft and tell your story?

The idea of being able to 'speak', my story was the catalyst in deciding to use video to tell my story. A deeper urge to get 'it out' finally drove me to do the digital video. A self audio, true visual image of my life resulted in an awesome outcome for me. I'm not a nervous computer user and seem to pick up new updates of software I come in contact with, however I never imaged that I would be able to learn a new multi media tool in such a short time. The computer software used was user friendly, the team facilitating was extremely experienced in empowering self achievement. It was an exciting and exhilarating experience to journey through.

What do you think is the power of telling stories through this method?

It is the only method of story telling I would truly recommend. The end result is extremely powerful. The storyteller can mix all three modes of communication over during a short period of time. Pictures are a thousand words in this mode.

Who have you shared your story with? What responses have you received?

I have shared my story with (among other): My sister, one up from me, the only member of my family. We cried. I still have not told my mother, nor shared with my other siblings. My ex partner has seen it – he was very quiet afterwards and a few days later said Hmmm… Even though little said, means from him - good. And my children. A men's responsibility program (behavioral change). I have utilized the theme of the story – silence speaks. This decision was hard but I felt it would, by allowing them to view it, assist women and children either residing in an abusive relationship or escaping a violent ex partner. The journey I take them on is from childhood to young mum to older woman. It has proved a very powerful tool to enable women’s voices to be heard in this arena.

In what ways has the process of both creating and sharing your digital story contributed to change in you? (if it has ...)

Getting a little bit of my inner pain into a story has been closure for me. It made me feel cleansed. I have many more stories I want to tell, not all about domestic violence. If sharing it within the feminist framework through my work environment assists even one woman or child to live free of violence then it was worth bearing my inner self. I walked away from the silence speaks workshop knowing that digital storytelling would assist in healing, and would be the best resource for ordinary people, living ordinary lives touched by non ordinary incidents.

Do you it's important to connect survivors globally, and how useful is digital storytelling in this?

Yes - many voices - one message - Yes, as it gives survivors the knowledge in a visual way, that being alone is one of the places you are never at.

Is there anything else you'd like to express, about your story, about the process of making it...etc?

The whole experience for me has been positive... draining, surreal, cleansing, closure, healing...