Netball Star Cara Koenen Reveals impact of Sexual Assault, Sparks Renewed focus on Violence Against Women in Australian Sport
Sydney, Australia – Australian Diamonds netball player Cara Koenen has publicly shared her experience as a survivor of sexual assault, detailing the profound impact it had on her athletic performance and personal life. Koenen’s heroic disclosure, made to ABC Sport earlier this week, comes as Australian netball continues to demonstrate its commitment to raising awareness about domestic and family violence.
Koenen, a goal shooter for the Queensland Firebirds in the Super Netball league, revealed the assault “rocked her whole world,” leading to a loss of confidence on the court and debilitating sleep disturbances. She spoke candidly about the internal struggle of questioning her own actions, a common experience for survivors often fueled by victim-blaming narratives. “It became all-consuming in all parts of my lifeโฆ I couldn’t escape it,” Koenen stated, adding that netball, once a sanctuary, “was no longer an escape or a place I could use to distract myself.”
this disclosure adds a deeply personal dimension to a growing movement within Australian netball to address the pervasive issue of violence against women. In May 2024, all eight Super Netball teams – the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Brisbane Heat, Collingwood magpies, Giants Netball, Melbourne Vixens, NSW Swifts, Queensland Firebirds, and West Coast Fever – wore purple armbands during matches from Round 5 onwards as a visible demonstration of support and solidarity. This initiative aimed to “shine a light on the national crisis” of domestic violence, a gesture coordinated by the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA).Beyond the on-court displays, ANPA delegates released a social media video earlier this season, articulating their collective view that domestic and family violence represents the most pressing social issue confronting australian women. Statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal the scale of the problem: in 2022, one in four (23.9%) women aged 18-44 experienced intimate partner violence.
Koenen’s decision to go public aligns with a broader trend of athletes using their platforms to advocate for social change. Her story challenges the harmful rhetoric that places responsibility on victims and underscores the far-reaching consequences of sexual assault, extending beyond the immediate trauma to impact professional lives and mental wellbeing.
Resources for Support:
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 – A national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. Lifeline: 13 11 14 – Provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.
DVConnect: 1800 811 811 – Queensland-based domestic violence support service. NSW Domestic Violence Line: 1800 656 436 – Provides support and data for those experiencing domestic violence in New South Wales.