Episode 7 — Charlie2-6 | She Served AU Podcast

Significant Trigger Warning:

This episode contains references to military sexual trauma, sexual assault, sexual violence, harassment, stalking, abuse of authority, victim-blaming, and institutional failure. The content is confronting and criminal in nature. If you are not in the right space to listen, please step away, take care of yourself, and return later — or not at all. Support services including Open Arms, Lifeline, and The Athena Project are listed in the show notes.

This episode is shared with full permission from Charlie26 aka C26

She has authorised Natasha Hilbers of She Served AU to tell her story in the hope that speaking out helps stop the harm.

Her experiences reflect not only what can occur in service, but what continues long after discharge — and why silence protects the wrong people.

C26 served. What she endured was not misunderstanding or poor leadership. It was military sexual trauma and sexual violence embedded within command failure. She describes being deliberately isolated and subjected to predatory sexual behaviour by a superior. When reported, the conduct was minimized, reduced to administrative embarrassment rather than recognised as sexual misconduct. The behaviour did not meaningfully stop. Authority became the shield.

When she sought help, the chain of command declined to investigate. “Your word against his.” The uniform did not protect her. His did. The power imbalance remained intact.

She later experienced stalking on base after refusing a soldier’s advances. Civilian police laid charges. Defence response was minimal. Instead of asking why he stalked her, she was asked what she had done to attract the attention.

In another incident, she was stripped naked and tied to a roof antenna during a unit initiation. When reported, she was told she was lucky it wasn’t worse. That response captures the culture — comparison to greater harm, rather than protection.

The harm did not end when she left service. As a long-standing committee member of over eight years, C26 pursued legitimate funding and endorsement opportunities. Applications stalled. Support failed to materialise. Endorsements were withheld without transparency. The pattern reflected quiet obstruction — a form of post-service retribution that sends a clear message: speaking out has consequences.

The harm then entered her personal space. In July 2025, a public comment appeared on her social media: “Why didn’t she wear that on patrol?” The implication — that clothing could have prevented rape — reflects the enduring narrative that shifts responsibility back to the survivor. The uniform may have come off, but the culture followed.

C26’s story reflects abuse of rank and authority, sexual coercion and assault, institutional minimisation, victim blaming, stalking, retaliation, reputational obstruction, and failure of duty of care — both in service and out.

MST is not only the act. It is the silence. The refusal to investigate. The culture that protects perpetrators, questions survivors, and marginalises those who refuse to stay quiet.

C26 served her country. The system did not serve her.

This episode calls time on that reality.

Enough.

Stop the harm — in service and

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Listener Care Notice: Trigger Warning
This episode discusses military service, trauma, and related experiences that may be confronting for some listeners. Please use personal discretion while listening.

If any of the topics raised are triggering or bring up difficult emotions, support is available through Athena Project Australia.

Website: https://athenaproject.org.au

Phone: 1800 943 539

You are not alone, and reaching out is a sign of strength.

Did I not put enough stamps on my letter? Did you not get my mail, Australia Post?

In this episode of the She Served AU Podcast, Natasha Hilbers speaks directly to a simple but powerful missing piece in addressing veteran homelessness: an address.

Not a symbolic gesture.

Not another awareness ribbon.

A practical, usable, everyday address that allows a veteran to reconnect with society.

Each year, in the lead-up to ANZAC Day, post offices across Australia are filled with products celebrating the ANZAC spirit. Stamps, collectibles, merchandise — all supported by Australians who care deeply about those who served. But this episode asks an uncomfortable question: if we are buying into the ANZAC spirit, where is that goodwill going? And more importantly, who is it helping?

Because while shelves are lined with tribute items, veterans are sleeping rough. And without something as basic as an address, they remain locked out of the very systems designed to support them.

No address means no driver’s licence.

No address means delays with DVA.

No address means difficulty accessing Centrelink.

No address means missed medical correspondence.

No address means barriers to employment, banking, and identity verification.

This episode introduces the Veteran Digital Address — a practical, immediate solution using infrastructure that already exists. Australia Post already supports virtual addressing linked to PO boxes and parcel services for everyday customers. The same concept could be extended to veterans experiencing homelessness, allowing them to receive mail safely at local outlets and maintain a consistent point of contact.

It’s not complicated. It’s not expensive. And it doesn’t require reinventing the wheel.

It simply requires action.

Natasha shares her advocacy journey, the letters sent, the conversations requested, and the growing frustration that this issue continues to be acknowledged but not implemented. The idea is straightforward: provide veterans with a stable virtual postal address tied to a local post office, giving them a pathway back into systems, services, and stability.

This isn’t about criticism for the sake of it. It’s about closing a gap that keeps veterans stuck. It’s about turning ANZAC spirit into practical support. And it’s about asking whether goodwill can translate into something tangible for those who need it most.

Because for someone sleeping rough, an address isn’t just mail.

It’s identity.

It’s access.

It’s dignity.

It’s a first step home.

Support the show

Listener Care Notice: Trigger Warning
This episode discusses military service, trauma, and related experiences that may be confronting for some listeners. Please use personal discretion while listening.

If any of the topics raised are triggering or bring up difficult emotions, support is available through Athena Project Australia.

Website: https://athenaproject.org.au

Phone: 1800 943 539

You are not alone, and reaching out is a sign of strength.

She Served AU Podcast – Season 1, Episode 4: Veteran Sandbox

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Suicide & Trauma

This episode discusses suicide.

Please take care while listening.

Pause, step away, or choose not to continue if this topic is not right for you at this time.

If you need support, please reach out:

• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 (24/7)
• Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 (24/7)
• Emergency (if in immediate danger): 000

In this deeply personal episode, Natasha Hilbers shares the story behind Veteran Sandbox—a frontline initiative born from grief, service, and an unwavering commitment to saving lives.

Following the loss of a close friend and fellow veteran she called the "Viking", Natasha reflects on the realities many in the veteran community face when seeking help—particularly in high-stimulation environments like Emergency Departments. Bright lights, noise, and long wait times can become overwhelming, especially for those already in crisis.

Veteran Sandbox is a simple yet powerful response. Designed to support sensory regulation and emotional safety, it includes tools such as noise-cancelling headphones, wraparound glasses, eye masks, and weighted blankets—providing immediate, practical care when it’s needed most.

Now successfully trialled at Bunbury Regional Hospital, this initiative is already making a difference. Natasha shares her vision for a national rollout, ensuring veterans across Australia have access to trauma-informed support the moment they walk through the doors of an ED.

This episode also introduces Vue2E, a communication tool designed to help veterans express their needs clearly during moments of escalation—supporting both the individual and the medical teams caring for them.

This is a conversation about loss, resilience, and purpose. It’s about recognising that frontline support saves lives—and that even one life is enough.

If you’re struggling, please know: you are not alone. Support is there, and your life matters.

Listen with care. Share with intention.

She Served AU – Voice for the Silent.

Support the show

Listener Care Notice: Trigger Warning
This episode discusses military service, trauma, and related experiences that may be confronting for some listeners. Please use personal discretion while listening.

If any of the topics raised are triggering or bring up difficult emotions, support is available through Athena Project Australia.

Website: https://athenaproject.org.au

Phone: 1800 943 539

You are not alone, and reaching out is a sign of strength.