Survivors of institutional abuse say apologies are nice, but it’s time for action
Survivors of institutional abuse are urging state governments to strike while the iron is hot and join a redress scheme.
The Express
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Survivors of institutional abuse are urging state governments to strike while the iron is hot and join a redress scheme.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week announced he would apologise to survivors by the end of the year and urged states to join the scheme recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
But for survivor Roy Janetzki, 72, actions speak louder than words.
“I think we have had enough apologies, it is time for action now,” he said.
“(I would like to see) the churches, charities either taxed or join the national redress scheme.”
Mr Janetzki and his wife Rhonda, who also suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a foster care institution, travelled from Wodonga to Bankstown on Friday to attend a morning tea thanking the Royal Commission for their tireless efforts.
Mr Janetzki said the commission was important because it means the pain won’t be forgotten.
“I’m not scared to speak out and tell my story anymore,” he said.
“Until the royal commission came along I would not have said a word. Once I told my story and came out I was four feet taller.”
The morning tea was hosted by Bankstown’s Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN), a support and advocacy group that has referred more than 1000 people to the commission over the past five years.
Commission chair Peter McClellan attended the morning tea one day after his retirement as did other commissioners, deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek and federal MP Jenny Macklin among others.
Mrs Janetzki said care leavers will be forever grateful to the royal commission staff for their tireless pursuit of the truth.
“The royal commission and councillors treated myself and all care leavers with respect. That’s the first time anyone in authority has done that,” she said.
The final report of the royal commission included 409 individual recommendations, including the redress scheme.
But the Federal Government’s model differs in several ways from the blueprint laid out by the royal commission, and is an opt-in model which has to be negotiated with states and institutions.
The humble beginnings of CLAN
In 1992, Joanna Penglase placed 150 advertisements in newspapers across NSW, calling on victims of institutional abuse to contact her.
Dr Penglase was working on a PhD on something nobody had researched before, the “hidden history” of the welfare system.
“When I started researching my thesis, there was nothing written about it, no one knew who ran the homes. It was a hidden history,” she said.
She fielded calls night and day including one from Georges Hall resident Leonie Sheedy.
The two women met in a back room of Ms Sheedy’s house in 2000 and decided to start the first national support network for survivors of orphanages, foster care and children’s homes.
The Care Leavers Australia Network now has more than 1000 members Australia-wide and has helped thousands of people who have suffered abuse at the hands of an institution.
As well as referring hundreds to the royal commission, the group has also been to all the court hearings for its members.
Royal Commission lists 189 recommendations
With the commission’s final report released in December, CLAN is now fighting to get compensation for all of its survivors.
“As our legal guardians the government need to acknowledge all forms of abuse and neglect,” Ms Sheedy said.
If you would like to join CLAN or find out more, phone 1800 008 774.