The Grace Tame Foundation has announced its impending closure due to the increasing difficulty of securing funding.

Named after Grace Tame, a Tasmanian survivor of child sexual abuse and the Australian of the Year, the foundation was established in 2021 to advocate for victims of abuse, raise awareness, and promote legal reforms.

The board, which consists of four volunteers, including Ms. Tame, stated that the process of winding down operations will be completed in the coming weeks.

In a recent statement shared on social media, the foundation expressed that “sustaining long-term funding for this work has become increasingly challenging.” It added that after thorough deliberation, the board opted to close the foundation.

Ms. Tame emerged as a prominent advocate for survivors following her own experience of abuse by a teacher during her schooling. Her efforts have spurred significant legal changes and brought attention to the plight of sexual abuse survivors.

Throughout its existence, the foundation claimed to have facilitated landmark legal reforms, advocated for the unification of survivor identification laws across Australia, promoted anti-grooming education, and assisted numerous survivors in their quest for justice. The foundation noted that, thanks to its advocacy, every region in Australia has ceased to refer to the crime of “persistent child sexual abuse” as a “relationship.”

“None of this would have been achievable without Grace’s relentless and dedicated advocacy for survivors, as well as her commitment to ensuring that the experiences of those harmed as children are no longer overlooked,” the statement emphasized.

In March, Ms. Tame reported a decline in her speaking engagements, linking this to an “ongoing smear campaign” against her following a protest speech in Sydney where she led a chant related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The board confirmed that the closure process will be finalized shortly and included a list of support services available for survivors seeking counseling or assistance.

Ms. Tame has been invited to provide comments regarding the foundation’s closure.