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Child Abuse Victim Urges Nation to Follow "Life-saving" Act Disclosure Scheme

By Christopher Knaus
Canberra Times
February 25, 2016

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/child-abuse-victim-urges-nation-to-follow-lifesaving-act-disclosure-scheme-20160225-gn3cjo.html

A child abuse campaigner has urged Australian governments to follow the ACT's proposed mandatory disclosure scheme, saying it would have saved children like him from being molested at the hands of a Marist brother decades ago.

Damian De Marco, named ACT Local Hero of the Year for his campaigning, is set to speak at a NSW Ombudsman's conference in Sydney on Friday, where he will praise the ACT's "courageous" plans to prevent institutional child sexual abuse and urge other states and territories to follow suit.

Damian De Marco, a victim of Brother Kostka, who was named ACT Local Hero of the Year in 2015 for campaigning to prevent child abuse Photo: Jamila Toderas

That scheme would see organisations with responsibility for children legally required to report any allegations of abuse or neglect to a new independent statutory authority, which would then handle complaints, denying institutions the chance to deal with them internally.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed on Thursday that he would seek to raise the issue of a consistent, strong national approach to reportable conduct at the next Council of Australian Governments meeting.

"Our children deserve to be protected wherever they live. Some jurisdictions, such as NSW, already have similar measures in place," Mr Barr said.

"A nationally consistent approach would ensure the best protection of children no matter where they live."

 

 

 

 

 




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