AUSTRALIA
7 News
Megan Neil
May 14, 2015
Many victims who haven’t come forward decades after being abused by clergy and religious in Ballarat might be prompted to speak up when the abuse royal commission sits in the Victorian town, a victims’ advocate hopes.
Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault manager Shireen Gunn says she has no doubt there are more victims who could be empowered by the commission hearings starting next week, as occurred after Victoria’s child abuse inquiry.
“We believe that there’s others who haven’t come forward yet, that are still in the wings,” Ms Gunn told AAP.
“If out of this intensive focus on our area, if more are able to see others have told their story and that gives them a sense that they come forward, that will be really good.”
Some of the men – aged in their 40s, 50s and 60s – who sought help after the Victorian parliamentary inquiry were speaking about their abuse for the first time.
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