About the Guest

Louisa Hope survived the unthinkable during the 2014 Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney—and chose to transform that trauma into something powerful. Rather than letting the terrorist attack define her, Louisa's channelled her experience into genuine advocacy for others facing similar struggles.

Through her work with Victims of Terrorism Australia (VOTA), she's providing crucial support to terrorism survivors across the country. She's also founded the Louisa Hope Fund for Nurses, championing healthcare workers who've carried Australia through its toughest moments. Louisa's story proves that even our darkest experiences can become sources of hope, healing, and meaningful change for others.

Key Takeaways:

• Despite the trauma, Louisa emphasizes the power of gratitude and resilience in her recovery process.
• The episode discusses potential systemic failures in handling terrorism, such as the police response and the assailant being out on bail.
• Louisa advocates for recognizing and addressing PTSD and trauma, stressing the importance of seeking professional help.
• The role of community support and love in the healing process is a recurring theme throughout Louisa’s story.

Notable Quotes:

• "You know, this is the duplicitous double minded nature of the man. You know, one minute going to kill me, the next minute concerned that I have MS and I need medication."
• "I was absolutely active and keeping short accounts with God because I was not gonna go to God with a heart full of hate."
• "There is no formal apology. It's more like, oh, well, that was bad luck for you on the day that you were there."
• "Your fat saved your life." (A poignant reminder of unexpected outcomes from challenging situations.)
• "This event didn't just happen to us inside the cafe, it happened to our whole country, all of us."

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Jenni Woodhouse a semi retired social worker

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Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.