Professor Gemma Carey: Australian author, child sex abuse survivor suddenly dies after ‘long COVID’ battle

A well known Australian author and academic has suddenly died after suffering a lengthy chronic health battle.

Professor Gemma Carey, formerly the Director of Centre for Social Impact, and National Research Director for the Centre for Social Impact network with the University of New South Wales, had spent three years on extended leave for “long COVID”.

“Gemma passed away on 17th November 2024 after a long battle with illness. Her family asks for privacy during this difficult time,’’ a family spokesperson told News Corp.

Her death is not suspicious, however a report will be prepared by the coroner.

It is understood that Professor Carey may have recently enquired about voluntary assisted dying (VAD) after being told she may be suffering from long COVID.

The author had been open about her story and struggles throughout the years, including her battle with the autoimmune disease Guillain-Barre Syndrome, as well as her sexual assault, both detailed in her memoir No Matter Our Wreckage.

“My mother knew I was abused as a child. She had read letters sent from my abuser to me,” she wrote in her memoir.

“But she never spoke to me about them, or what they described. And she never intervened to stop the abuse.

“Now she is dying and the past is rising to the surface like a bruise.”

At age 17, Professor Carey took the perpetrator to court and they were placed on the child sex offenders register.

Professor Carey had returned to work in mid-2024.

“Since turning 30, she has lived with varying levels of physical disability, when her immune system attacked her nervous system,” her UNSW profile reads.

“She believes that working to create equitable living conditions and opportunities is a fundamental responsibility of communities and governments.”

Professor Carey claimed to have sustained a serious injury from the AztraZeneca COVID vaccination in 2021, telling newsletter Crikey the jab gave her “functional stroke” symptoms.

“Every fine nerve fibre in my body became inflamed,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Her injuries were significant and left Professor Carey in need of rehabilitation so that she could read, write and talk.

As she endured the long-lasting effects, Professor Carey advocated for a vaccine injury compensation scheme, something that saw her become the target of online trolls and hate.

The online hate became so much that Professor Cary took “a leave of absence” from her social media and work.

“Due to harassment that has crossed form this platform into all aspects of my professional and personal life, I will be taking a leave of absence,” she posted on X.

Professor Carey left behind her husband.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.