www.firstnationstelegraph.com
Child sexual abuse survivors encouraged to share their story
Commissioner Bob Atkinson APM, Helen Milroy, Justice Peter McClellan AM, Justice Jennifer Coate, Robert Fitzgerald and Andrew Murray
supplied by child abuse royal commission media 28 April 2014
T
he Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to share their story of child sexual abuse. Royal Commission Chief Executive Officer Janette Dines said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will be a key focus of a national public awareness campaign launched today. “Around 7per cent* of people who’ve shared their story with the Royal Commission identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, but we know that there are many more survivors who are yet to make contact with the Royal Commission. “The Royal Commission has been working to build trust with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities and will visit a number of regions including: • Kimberley and Geraldton in Western Australia • Northern and central regions of the Northern Territory • Far North Queensland • Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait • Central West region of New South Wales “This campaign is an opportunity for all Australians to find out more about the work of the Royal Commission and how survivors can share their story of child sexual abuse. “From today people should expect to start seeing and hearing more about the Royal Commission in newspapers, websites and radio stations around the country as the campaign is rolled out in every state and territory,” she said. Ms Dines said the Royal Commission will be distributing information about its work across an extensive network of government bodies, community
groups and service providers around the country. “By distributing information about the Royal Commission via local councils, medical centres, government and community services, we will be able to connect with even more people and ensure that everyone who experienced child sexual abuse while in the care of an Australian institution has the opportunity to share their story with Royal Commission, if they choose to do so. “The Royal Commission will also work with key Indigenous groups in the community who play a vital role in informing people about the Royal Commission and encouraging more people to share their story,” said Ms Dines. The Royal Commission can be found on Facebook and Twitter @ CARoyalComm #shareyourstory *Royal Commission private sessions data current as at March 2014. Please note; this figure is indicative only.
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