AUSTRALIA
The Courier-Mail
Toowoomba child protection officer’s words at sex abuse royal commission speak volumes
KAREN BROOKS THE COURIER-MAIL FEBRUARY 25, 2014
OUT of all the evidence so far given to the child sexual abuse royal commission by senior staff at a Toowoomba Catholic primary school, I was struck by the words of the school’s child protection officer.
In giving her evidence to the commission in Brisbane last week, Catherine Long wondered why more of the children didn’t have the courage to come forward.
Let me explain this apparent “lack” by offering a first-hand account of what it’s like to be the target of a pedophile.
It’s my hope this helps shed understanding on why kids don’t come forward or why, when they do, it’s important the immediate default position is to believe them and act – which then takes courage of a different kind.
My abuse began when I was eight years old and continued for three long years.
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