The Royal Commission into Child Abuse Is Coming to Tasmania Next Week

By Anne Mather Mercury
Herald Sun
September 6, 2013

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/the-royal-rommission-into-child-abuse-coming-to-tasmania-next-week/story-fnjj6013-1226713716469

TASMANIANS who experienced childhood sexual abuse in an institution will have their chance to speak privately before a royal commission next week.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will be holding private sessions in Tasmania from Tuesday.

A Tasmanian advocate for the sexually abused has reassured victims that the royal commission is a compassionate and supportive process.

Beyond Abuse spokesman Steve Fisher said the private sessions being run by the royal commission were a world away from facing a court or church tribunal.

"These are designed to ensure people are not re-traumatised," he said.

"People have no need to worry about this process. It's tailored to support the person who has been abused," he said.

Psychologists would be on hand to help anyone distressed after revealing their abuse.

"I hope Tasmanians come forward because there is nothing to fear," he said.

Already 326 people have told their stories in private sessions across the country.

The royal commission expects to hold at least 850 private sessions by the end of the year.

The private sessions offer people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse in an institution the chance to tell their story to a royal commissioner.

The sessions are strictly confidential and no one from an institution is present.

Royal commission chief executive Janette Dines said the hearings had been revealing.

"The private sessions are contributing significantly to the commissioners' understanding of the nature and extent of the sexual abuse of children within institutions in Australia," Ms Dines said.

"Many of the personal stories which the commissioners receive report a level of abuse and mistreatment of children which will shock many people," she said.

Tasmanians wishing to tell their story can find out more by visiting www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au.

Contact: anne.mather@news.com.au