AUSTRALIA
ABC News

Posted Tue Aug 13, 2013

The Federal Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is holding private sessions in Canberra this week.

The commission is holding private sessions around Australia with people who experienced child sexual abuse while in institutional care.

Commission chief executive officer Janette Dines says the private sessions are conducted informally in the presence of one or two commissioners.

“People who have come to a private session tell us that it was a positive and worthwhile experience,” she said.

“We understand how difficult it can be for people to come forward and talk about what happened to them. There are trained counsellors available to provide immediate support to anyone in distress.