Salvation Army Wants to Contact Abused

Sky News
February 10, 2014

http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=949018


The Salvation Army wants those who were abused in its homes to come forward.

The army has unreservedly apologised to victims of sexual abuse but understands that many victims remain traumatised.

'There are people in the hearing room here who find it difficult to see the (Salvation Army) uniform and that makes me sad,' Commissioner James Condon told a hearing of the royal commission into child sexual abuse in Sydney.

'We invite all who were harmed to get in touch with us.'

Over the past two weeks the commission has heard of horrendous sexual and physical abuse by Salvation Army officers at four boys homes in NSW and Queensland - the Bexley home for boys in south Sydney, the Gill Memorial Home in Goulburn, the Alkira home in Indooroopilly, Brisbane, and a training farm in Riverview, Queensland.

Mr Condon, the head of the army's eastern territory Mr Condon said the army would consider joining a national redress scheme for victims of sexual and physical abuse in its homes.

The Catholic and Anglican churches have already proposed a scheme.

'We are more than prepared to enter into dialogue regarding that,' Mr Condon told commission chair Justice Peter McClellan.

Mr Condon said the army accepted legal responsibility for the abuse.

However the Salvation Army is a charitable trust and as such does not employ its officers, which leaves open the question of liability.

This is also the situation with the Catholic and Anglican churches, who have disputed liability when it comes to compensating victims.

Mr Condon could not say whether the army's insurer would prevent it from accepting responsibility.

Earlier on Monday he said the army would not contest liability if victims came forward.

Of 157 abuse claims over the past 12 years, 133 have received ex-gratia payments and six have received apologies and help with counselling. Eight have been rejected after investigation and some lost contact.

The army no longer runs children's homes in Australia but is involved in foster care and events such as summer camps for underprivileged children.

Justice McClellan questioned the army's policy requiring those receiving compensation not to reveal the amount.

Mr Condon said it had been put in place to stop people comparing payouts.

He said payout guidelines were not made available to victims, but when pressed by the commission Mr Condon said: 'I am happy to look at that'.