Full cover spread of The Silence That Raised Me by Jeremy Waters, front cover, spine, and back cover
The Silence That Raised Me
A Memoir

The Silence
That Raised Me

Control · Power · Money · Freedom

The raw, unflinching account of a boy left to survive within the Catholic Church, boarding schools, and the state care system of New South Wales — and the fight for justice that followed.

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The Silence That Raised Me — book cover by Jeremy Waters
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The Book

A story of survival, and one among thousands

In The Silence That Raised Me, I share the raw, unflinching truth of a boy left to survive within the Catholic Church, boarding schools, and as a ward of the State in New South Wales. This is a story of control, power, money, and freedom stolen — but it is also a story of survival, resilience, and the fight for justice. There are many survivors like me. This is just one story among thousands.

Jeremy writes it not just as his own story, but as one among thousands like it. The book confronts how much trust we place in the people and institutions meant to protect children — churches, schools, carers, the state — and what happens when that trust is betrayed. It’s framed as a call to action as much as a personal account: a demand that no child should have to carry this kind of silence again.

— Jeremy Waters

01

Control

A childhood shaped by institutions that decided where he lived, who cared for him, and whose voice counted.

02

Power

Trust placed in the hands of the Church, the State, and their carers — and what happened when that trust was broken.

03

Money

The systems built to protect children, and the interests that too often protected something else instead.

04

Freedom

What it took to reclaim a voice, break the silence, and turn survival into a call for change.

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The Trilogy

One story, three vantage points

The Silence That Raised Me is the first book in a planned trilogy. Each instalment returns to the same truth from a different point in Jeremy’s life — because silence doesn’t lift all at once.

Book One · Available Now The Child’s Perspective

The Silence That Raised Me

The story as it was lived — a boy inside the Catholic Church, boarding schools, and the New South Wales state care system, surviving forces far bigger than himself.

Book Two · Coming Soon The Adult’s Perspective

The Silence That Guided Me

The same story seen again through adult eyes — reckoning with what was understood only in hindsight, and how that childhood went on to shape the man, the advocate, and the fight that followed.

Book Three · Coming Soon Beyond the Individual Story

The Silence Beyond Me

The lens widens beyond one survivor’s account to the systems, institutions, and generations still living with the same silence — and what it will take to finally break it for good.

The Author

Jeremy Waters

Jeremy Waters is a survivor, author, and full-time advocate for child protection reform based in Queensland, Australia. Drawing on his own experience growing up within the Catholic Church, boarding schools, and the New South Wales state care system, he wrote The Silence That Raised Me to give voice to a story he says belongs to thousands of survivors, not just one.

Today, Jeremy works full-time in advocacy and public speaking, pushing for stronger accountability from the institutions entrusted with children’s safety — the Church, the State, and the systems built to protect the vulnerable. He believes real change starts with breaking silence, not maintaining it.

What’s next

Jeremy’s advocacy doesn’t stop at the page. He is committed to shining a light on the systems that allowed abuse to continue unchecked for decades — including seeking a deeper understanding of how offenders operated, and where institutions failed to intervene. His goal is not sensationalism, but accountability: exposing the patterns that let abuse go unnoticed, so the next generation of children is better protected than his was.

“I don’t want to hear another story like mine. There are already too many survivors still carrying pain, still living in silence. This is not just my story — it is a call for justice.”
FAQ

Common questions

Is this book part of a series?

Yes — this is Book One of a planned trilogy. Book Two is The Silence That Guided Me (the adult’s perspective), and Book Three is The Silence Beyond Me (the systems beyond one survivor). Both are coming soon.

Where can I buy it?

Available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle eBook. Also available via IngramSpark for retailers and libraries. See the links below.

Does the book contain difficult content?

Yes. It discusses childhood sexual abuse directly and with honesty. If this brings up difficult feelings, support is available — Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and Bravehearts on 1800 272 831.

Is Jeremy available for speaking or media?

Jeremy is available for speaking engagements, media interviews, and advocacy events. Reach out via the Facebook page linked in the footer below.

What is Jeremy’s advocacy work focused on?

Jeremy works full-time to hold institutions accountable — the Church, the State, and the care systems built to protect vulnerable children. He is committed to exposing the patterns that allowed abuse to go unchecked, so the next generation is better protected than his was.

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Where to Buy

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Amazon Paperback & Hardcover Also available as Kindle eBook → IngramSpark Retailers & Libraries Order through your local bookstore → More options Additional retailers Further stockists coming soon →

A note on content: This book discusses childhood sexual abuse. If reading about this brings up difficult feelings, support is available — in Australia, Lifeline is on 13 11 14, and Bravehearts supports survivors of child sexual abuse on 1800 272 831.