SURVIVAL IS AN INSTINCT

Reflections on Survival and Justice – Lawyer and Writer Brooke Forbes on Her New Book Survival is an Instinct

Does the continual act of surviving, through whatever mechanisms possible, constitute an ultimate form a justice?

This is one of the questions I pose within my new creative memoir / short story series entitled Survival is an Instinct.

Opening with statements on the innate ability to use communication, in particular writing, in order to reframe, reclaim and share your story, my newly-launched genre-blending creative memoir shares the rugged truth of survival and healing – the powers and politics at play, and how human experiences of survival cannot be told in one linear story alone.

Almost a decade ago, I survived sexual assault at the hands of my then Managing Director. As a result of the trauma, I spiralled into psychotic episodes, that heavily played into the themes of sexual abuse and political manipulation, that saw me hospitalised twice and diagnosed with schizophrenia and then schizo-affective disorder.

Throughout this journey, I used creative writing to help rebuild my identity and heal. I also studied a law degree, and became a lawyer in 2024.

Survival is an Instinct is an open dialogue between reader and author on what it means to reconstruct your reality, when the building blocks of sanity have been removed from your grasp. It’s also about how to reclaim your journey and use the strength in community and creativity to move forward.

Healing is often a misunderstood concept. There is no one way to overcome the trauma of the past and move forward with purpose and fulfilment. To me, there is no end point in healing. It’s a constant dance of give and take, a constant assignment to turn up for yourself and place your life at the forefront of the often-overwhelming noise of past trauma.

As well as barriers to healing, I also faced structural battles in a search for personal justice. These came in the form of reporting to the police, their limited response and the lack of trauma-informed practice I experienced. Knowing how vulnerable I was when I did report, the response was met with tactics designed to undermine my story, question my credibility and ultimately dissuade me from pursuing any form of criminal legal justice.

I also hit brick walls in the civil justice route – whereby I could sue for vicarious liability or the perpetrator directly. Costly and retraumatising, these avenues did not allow a survivor to heal and then seek justice, but rather demanded attention be paid within a limiting time period.

Recently, I received the highest payment available for the survivor of sexual assault from the NSW government in the Victims Support Scheme – and valuable counselling hours, which offered a lifeline through managing the lingering effects of mental illness, trauma and the workload of new career in advocacy and law.

Throughout the book, I publish the often-raw writings of past and current reflections and creations; seeking the reader to look at mental illness, survival and justice from a multitude of angles. My personal story of survival is shared; but so are fictional stories of complex lives, turning points and human interaction. It’s about the innate want to add meaning to the mayhem, but somehow failing to capture it all within the confines of a singular linear story.

Which plays into my creative call-out to WGG Australia readers, in my Micro Lit/ Poetry Competition.

The concept is simple – reflect, create and share your own piece on what survival means to you, within 20 lines or less. It can be any story, poem or fragment. Amongst the entries, 10 will win the free e-book, Survival is an Instinct.

The aim is to create community around the theme of survival, encourage co-creation and support each other’s journeys. 

I hope to share my creative memoir with WGG readers, who can find the book for sale here.

As one of the early readers of Survival is an Instinct, the team at WGG Australia shared a humbling and compelling statement of support for my book, which is published within its pages, and I’d like to share below. 

As stated, please connect to resources and professionals if you need support when reading the book.

WGG Australia Statement of Support 

WGG Australia is proud to recognise and support Survival is an Instinct by Brooke Forbes, a courageous and deeply moving work that gives voice to the realities of sexual violence, mental illness, and recovery.

This book captures what many survivors know too well: that justice is not always found in courtrooms, but in the ongoing act of surviving, creating, and reclaiming one’s story. Through a blend of memoir and fiction, Brooke’s writing invites readers into the complex and often misunderstood intersections of trauma, psychosis, and healing.

As an organisation dedicated to preventing sexual violence and supporting those affected by it, WGG Australia acknowledges the bravery it takes to write and share such personal experiences. Survival is an Instinct is not only an act of art, it is an act of resistance. It challenges stigma, amplifies survivor voices, and reminds us that creative expression can be a pathway to justice and recovery.

We recognise the sensitivity of the topics explored in this work, including sexual assault, mental illness, and suicidality. Brooke approaches these subjects with authenticity and emotional honesty, refusing to sanitise the lived experiences of survivors. We encourage readers to engage with the book safely and with care, and we urge publishers, educators, and community leaders to use this work to foster understanding, compassion, and change.

WGG Australia stands in support of Brooke Forbes and the message at the heart of her book, that survival itself is a radical act of hope, and that through storytelling, we move closer to collective healing and accountability.

Brooke Forbes can be found online here. Or follow her Instagram here.