Cancelled: CASACV presents Left Write Hook Bendigo Q&A Documentary Screening

Name: Cancelled: CASACV presents Left Write Hook Bendigo Q&A Documentary Screening
Start: 2026-04-11T13:50:00+1000
End: 2026-04-11T16:15:00+1000
Location: La Trobe Art Institute

Sat, 11 Apr, 1:50pm - 4:15pm AEST

La Trobe Art Institute

Bendigo VIC, Australia

· Accessibility info

Left Write Hook

143 followers · Contact host

Description

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been cancelled. This page will remain live for one week so that pre-registered attendees can complete refund requests.

Join CASACV and Left Write Hook on Saturday 11 April for a special Q&A screening of the multi-award-winning Australian documentary Left Write Hook.

This powerful film follows survivors of childhood sexual abuse as they take part in a unique recovery program that combines trauma-aware creative writing and non-contact boxing.

After the screening, stay for a live panel discussion with survivors, filmmakers and local sector leaders exploring trauma recovery, survivor leadership and the impact of innovative community programs.

All ticket sales go towards supporting Left Write Hook’s work with survivors across Australia.

What you’ll experience at this event

A screening of the multi-award-winning documentary Left Write Hook
A live Q&A panel with survivors, filmmakers and sector leaders
An opportunity to learn about survivor-led approaches to healing
An opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming Left Write Hook Bendigo program
A chance to connect with others who care about supporting recovery and community wellbeing.

About the film

Left Write Hook follows a group of survivors participating in a unique recovery program that combines trauma-aware creative writing with non-contact boxing.

Created by survivors, the program supports participants to reconnect with their bodies, reclaim their voices and rebuild strength, confidence and community.

The documentary has received national recognition including Best Feature Documentary at the Australian International Documentary Conference and the Audience Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Through deeply personal stories, the film offers a powerful and hopeful exploration of survivor-led healing.

Meet the panel

Following the screening, audiences are invited to stay for a live Q&A conversation with guest speakers.

Panel members may include survivors, filmmakers and local sector leaders. Speakers will be announced in the lead up to the event.

Thank you to our event supporters

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

Host information

Left Write Hook

143 followers

Contact host

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Left Write Hook is a research informed 8-week boxing and writing workshop for adult survivors of child sexual abuse and trauma. The program is designed to empower survivors to take back their power through the physical and creative expressive processes of boxing and writing.

The program was founded by Donna Lyon, PhD, in 2019 at her local boxing gym, FitLife, in Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, Victoria, borne out of her lived experience as a survivor and a fighter.

In 2020, Lyon took the program to the University of Melbourne, whereby she teamed up with a group of interdisciplinary researchers to measure the efficacy of the program. The results demonstrated that the Left Write Hook reduced symptoms of PTSD, depression, stress, and anxiety, while increasing personal agency, resilience, and a sense of belonging. This research brought together a psychologist, gender expert, filmmaker & survivor, with the intention of studying the effects of the program, making a documentary film and producing a book.

Due to COVID, the face-to-face workshops that began in the gym shifted online. Across 2020, Lyon facilitated three workshops, organised by eight-week rounds. She pitched the idea of co-curating a book of the writings generated from the workshops to the group of participants and in 2021, Loving Healing Press, USA came on board as the publisher. Read more about the book.

Donna Lyon and filmmaker/researcher Shannon Owen then turned their attention to the documentary, which has become a model for participatory filmmaking collaboration between the filmmaking team and the project participant/collaborators. The film attracted development funding from VicScreen and secured a production company partnership with Sweetshop & Green to help develop and take the film to market. Through this collaboration, the team received production funding from Screen Australia, VicScreen, University of Melbourne, Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund, and distribution from Bonsai Films. Find out more about the documentary.

In 2022, Donna Lyon set up Left Write Hook as a not-for-profit company so that she could begin to run more workshops for survivors.