INSTITUTIONS at the centre of child sexual abuse should pay for victims’ support, but not provide it first-hand, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse was told on Monday.
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Giving evidence to the Commission, psychiatrist Carolyn Quadrio said victims were angered by having to see doctors and psychologists who had been paid for by the institutions they were abused by.
“That’s one of the problems at attempts at redress made by the institutions,” Professor Quadrio said. “Maybe the institutions can pay the bill, but that’s all.
“They shouldn’t be providing the treatment. It’s a bit like psychiatric research run by drug companies ... you know the results are going to be skewed and they are. It has to be separate from the money, otherwise it gets skewed.”
The psychiatrist said while private help was needed in most cases, victims should also seek the support of other survivors.
“Finding other people who have been through the same experience is a great comfort,” she said.
“It makes you feel like you’re not alone, and also you have people you can talk to who really do understand what you have been going through.
‘‘So survivor organisations are very helpful.”
