Actor steps up bravely for new role

TASMANIAN actor Lisa Gormley won’t win a Logie for her latest role, but it’s one she hopes will have a positive impact on countless lives.

Gormley, who grew up in Nicholls Rivulet, south of Hobart, has signed on as a Tasmanian ambassador for Bravehearts, a national charity with a mission to prevent child sexual assault.

Best known for playing Bianca Scott on long-running TV series Home and Away, Gormley got involved because she loves the work Bravehearts does.

“[It’s] just bringing awareness to an issue that’s really hard for people to discuss and talk about and, like all things, once you remove the stigma it becomes so much easier to stem the cause of an issue, rather than just treating a symptom,” she said.

Gormley said she hoped to use her role to start conversations about a difficult topic.

“Once people start talking and are more open about these things, we can find ways to prevent them,” she said.

“I feel like this is another angle to help kids navigate this world we live in, which is full of social media and very mixed messages.”

Bravehearts fundraising committee member Helen Halliday yesterday said she was “absolutely thrilled” to have Gormley on board.

“Lisa will make the difference because people will actually sit up and take note when it’s coming from someone that they admire,” she said.

Gormley was born in England but moved to Tasmania at age 12.

One of her first tasks as an ambassador will be to attend Bravehearts’ gala dinner at Wrest Point on August 26.