Graeme grew up on Wiradjuri land.

National Survivors’ Day is incredibly proud to welcome Graeme Simpfendorfer as a 2026 National Survivors’ Day Ambassador.

Graeme is a former Victoria Police Detective Sergeant, senior leader, investigator, speaker and, importantly, a Survivor.

For almost three decades, Graeme served with Victoria Police, working in serious crime and the Homicide Squad, leading specialist teams and eventually becoming Officer in Charge of Wodonga Detectives.

But it was while undertaking training to specialise in Victoria Police’s Sex Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Team that Graeme was confronted with something deeply personal.

As a lecturer described the grooming tactics used by perpetrators, Graeme recognised behaviours from his own childhood.

Suddenly, he was 13 years old again.  

Graeme has since spoken publicly about his experience of childhood sexual abuse, the process of confronting trauma he had buried for decades, and his own long and difficult journey through the justice system.

Graeme knew the justice system as a detective. He understood investigations. He understood the delays. He understood the processes.

And then he experienced that system as a Survivor.

His own case ultimately went to trial and resulted in an acquittal. But Graeme has continued to speak publicly about his experience and to advocate for change, including specialist sexual offence courts and reforms to reduce the delays that can take an enormous toll on Survivors seeking justice.

Since leaving Victoria Police in 2021, Graeme has also become a powerful voice on leadership, mental health, vulnerability, resilience and moral courage.

And we are incredibly honoured that he is bringing that voice to National Survivors’ Day.

Graeme's story reminds us of something fundamental to our work:

No single picture defines a Survivor.

A Survivor can be a child.

A Survivor can become a police officer.

A Survivor can spend a career protecting other people.

A Survivor can understand the justice system intimately – and still find navigating that system extraordinarily difficult.

And sometimes it can take years, even decades, before someone is ready or able to confront what happened to them.

No two paths to justice are the same.

On 10 November 2026, Graeme will join our growing community of National Survivors’ Day Ambassadors to help us recognise those experiences, identify them, challenge stigma and create conversations that make it easier for Survivors to be heard.

We are absolutely thrilled to have him standing with us.

Welcome to National Survivors’ Day, Graeme.