Member Spotlight - Donna Lyon
The Member Spotlights are always a highlight for us at WIFT Vic. Each conversation with our extraordinary community of creatives reminds us why we exist: to celebrate, connect, and uplift the voices shaping our screen industry. This month’s conversation with Dr Donna Lyon is especially powerful, exploring creativity, healing, and the impact of childhood sexual assault. Please take care as you read; if you’re not in the right space, it’s okay to pause and return later. Support service contacts are listed if you need to talk.
“I dreamed of being a producer.”
Dr Donna Lyon’s journey is one of creativity, courage, and compassion. It is a story of transforming personal hardship into purpose and using film as a tool to uplift others. From the age of 16, when she first began experimenting with short films, Donna’s path has been anything but linear. Over the years, she has evolved into a celebrated multi-disciplinary producer, educator, and researcher, guided by curiosity, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to meaningful storytelling. Through education and filmmaking, Donna has created pathways for self-discovery, healing, and empowerment—not only for herself but for the communities she champions.
Now an Associate Professor in Film and Television at the University of Melbourne, Donna is also the founder and CEO of the Left Write Hook charity, an innovative initiative combining writing and trauma-informed boxing to support survivors of child sexual abuse and gendered violence. In 2021, she produced the feature film Disclosure, a micro-budget drama examining truth, consent, and the ripple effects of sexual assault within a community. She has since expanded her practice into documentary filmmaking with Left Write Hook (2024), alongside a companion book sharing survivor stories from the program. These projects illustrate how creative work can both reflect and catalyse social change.
“In my mid 30s, I started to feel really angry, and I knew it was related to my childhood sexual abuse, and I thought, well, I better channel this anger. And I decided to enroll in boxing classes.”
A profound aspect of Donna’s journey has been confronting the long-term impacts of childhood abuse and transforming that pain into purpose. Seeking strength, expression, and empowerment, she turned to both boxing and storytelling as tools for healing. These two paths intersected in the creation of Left Write Hook. Born from a grassroots program she founded in 2019, the documentary follows women and gender-diverse survivors of child sexual abuse, demonstrating how creativity and movement can be used to rebuild confidence, agency, and resilience.
“[We] aimed to empowering the voices of survivors and helping survivors take back their power.”
What began as Donna’s personal way to channel anger and reclaim power became a trauma-informed space for broader empowerment and recovery. Co-created with director Shannon Owen, Left Write Hook exemplifies socially engaged, ethical filmmaking, centering transparency, consent, and participant care. The survivors who took part helped shape both the narrative and boundaries of the film, making it a model for responsible storytelling in deeply sensitive areas.
The impact of the program extends far beyond the screen. Through partnerships with philanthropy and the University of Melbourne, Left Write Hook evolved into a registered charity that has delivered more than 30 programs, reaching over 250 survivors including developing a men’s program. Its innovative approach combines creative arts, boxing, and peer-led facilitation to promote healing and empowerment. Despite the systemic challenges inherent in sustaining social-impact initiatives, Donna’s commitment demonstrates how documentary practice can create meaningful community transformation and social change.
In recognition of its impact, Macedon Ranges Shire Council is hosting a free screening of Left Write Hook on Thursday, 20 November, ahead of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The screening will include a panel with Donna, program participants, and representatives from Centre Against Sexual Assault and Centre of Non-Violence, offering support and information before and after the event. Tickets are available via the Council’s website.
Left Write Hook stands not only as a film but as a movement, one that harnesses creativity, embodiment, and collaboration to restore agency, build community, and reimagine trauma-informed storytelling as a catalyst for both art and healing.
Support lines:
1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
Victims of Crime Helpline: 1800 819 817
Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
Headspace on 1800 650 890
QLife on 1800 184 527
