Karise McNamee - Paths with Purpose

24/02/2026

24/02/2026

⚠️ Content Warning: Sexual violence, child abuse
You may have noticed I haven't commented on the Epstein files release. There's a reason for that.

Sometimes I work with survivors of sexual violence, and I am deeply mindful that this kind of news can be profoundly triggering for my clients and followers. I never approach these topics lightly or quickly. They deserve care, thoughtfulness, and sensitivity.

But I do want to say something.

For seven years, I worked as an investigator of child sexual exploitation. I saw the very worst of humanity. I sat with evidence that most people will never have to encounter, and I carried the weight of stories that should never have existed.

What has been revealed in the Epstein files is not a surprise to those of us who have worked in this space. It is, however, a confirmation of something utterly abhorrent — a widespread, organised, and deliberate abuse of power against the most vulnerable. This is one of the most horrific and far-reaching examples of predatory behaviour the modern world has seen.

And I don't think we have seen the end of it. We may never.

This matters deeply to the community I serve.

Research tells us that autistic women are two to three times more likely to experience sexual violence than non-autistic women — with up to 88% reporting victimisation in their lifetime (Cazalis et al., 2022). ADHD women face similarly elevated risk (Gotby et al., 2018).

The Epstein story is not separate from the women I work with every day. It is part of the same world they are navigating.

What I know for certain is this: we must always, always believe survivors. Their courage in coming forward — often at enormous personal cost — is what forces the world to look at what it would rather look away from.

To every survivor reading this: you are seen. You are believed. Your truth matters.



Cazalis, F., Reyes, E., Leduc, S., & Gourion, D. (2022). Evidence that nine autistic women out of ten have been victims of sexual violence. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 16, Article 852203. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.852203

Ohlsson Gotby, V., Lichtenstein, P., Långström, N., & Pettersson, E. (2018). Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and risk of coercive sexual victimization in childhood and adolescence: A population-based prospective twin study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(9), 957–965. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12884

24/02/2026

24/02/2026

ADHD care is changing in NSW!

If you already have a diagnosis, you can now get your ongoing prescriptions from a trained GP. This change will help make care more affordable and accessible for families ✅

Chat with your regular GP to see if they're trained to help you.

Or visit healthdirect.gov.au to find a GP who can continue your treatment. You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a nurse.

Learn more: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/adhd

24/02/2026

The present moment is the only time that any of us have
to be alive. 💕

24/02/2026

To every woman who has watched the Four Corners story this week and felt their heart break — I see you.

The allegations surrounding Dr Simon Gordon are devastating. Women who had spent years fighting to be believed about their pain finally found someone who said he could help. That trust was sacred. What happened to them is not okay.

If you're feeling shaken, angry, or grief-stricken right now — that is a completely valid response. You are not alone in this.

If you were treated by Dr Simon Gordon at Epworth HealthCare or Endo Health and have concerns, support is available:
🔹 Maurice Blackburn: 1800 810 812
🔹 Arnold Thomas & Becker: 1300 333 300
🔹 AHPRA's investigation is ongoing.

Women's pain has always deserved to be taken seriously. Always.

23/02/2026

23/02/2026

20/02/2026

I'm so excited to be speaking at Ignite - The Perimenopause and Menopause Expo in beautiful Kiama on Sunday 15 March 2026.

I'll be presenting on "The Hormone-ADHD Connection: Why Perimenopause Hits Different".

Come along Sydneysiders! Or travel from far and wide and make a weekend of it!

It's going to be an incredible event and tickets are so affordable!

Every woman deserves access to this wealth of information and support 😍

Book your tickets in advance - and save $10

First 300 in the door get the coveted Goodie Bag 🛍️

www.igniteillawarra.au

19/02/2026

18/02/2026

Landmark Moment: First prison sentence for Coercive Control in NSW

Following the passing of landmark legislation in 2022 that criminalised coercive control in New South Wales, a 34-year-old man has now become the first person sentenced to prison under the law. The defendant was also charged with stalking and breach of a protection order.

Coercive control is defined as a person using repeated patterns of physical or non-physical abuse to hurt, scare, intimidate, threaten or control someone. NSW criminalised the offence in July 2024.

Here in Queensland, coercive control is now also a criminal offence. From 26 May 2025, “Hannah’s Law” recognises patterns of controlling behaviour as serious criminal conduct - with penalties of up to 14 years’ imprisonment.

Read the full story: https://pulse.ly/nixiax4zy6

For more information about coercive control law in Queensland, visit our website for free resources: https://wlsq.org.au/resource/coercive-control/

If this raises issues for you, support is available:
🚨 In immediate danger? Call 000
📱 DVConnect (24/7): 1800 811 811
📱 1800RESPECT (24/7): 1800 737 732
⚖️ Free DFV legal help – WLSQ: 1800 957 957 (Mon–Fri 9 AM–4:30 PM)