Geraldton woman Sharna Timmer launches registered not-for-profit charity for paternity fraud victims

A Geraldton woman has launched a not-for-profit charity to provide support for men who have been intentionally misidentified as a biological father, as well as other victims involved in paternity fraud. Sharna Timmer is an advocate for paternity fraud victims across Australia and recently launched her not-for-profit charity online. The Reynoldswrite Foundation allows victims experiencing misattributed paternity or paternity fraud to seek information and resources in an easy to access website. This can include children, the biological father and the male falsely identified by the mother as the child’s father. Support resources include professional support from a number of specialised councillors, access to accredited DNA paternity testing labs, legal services and links to government documents. Ms Timmer understands the emotional battle of paternity fraud after her best friend experienced it first hand. After raising his son for many years, Ms Timmer said he discovered through tragic circumstances he wasn’t the biological father when the boy died due to a genetic disorder he didn’t have. In another case, a local mother approached Ms Timmer after her teenage son was told he was the father of an unborn child. Following advice, the family asked for a DNA test and the situation changed. “Once the options were laid on the table and the pressure was applied, the young girl changed her story and no, he actually wasn’t the father,” she said. Ms Timmer said she was prepared to put the time and effort into creating a safe space for those suffering from paternity fraud and hoped it would raise more awareness of the issue. “It is something I’ve become so passionate about because I can see the devastating effects and I can see how it affects so many different people on so many different levels,” she said. “For me, it’s not an option to not do anything about it, I think these are issues that need to be raised.” With 60,000 registered organisations at the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, Ms Timmer said Reynoldswrite Foundation was the first of its kind in Australia. For more information visit reynoldswrite.com.au.