Child sexual abuse survivors say long-term, ongoing support is needed, three years after meeting with Vatican sexual abuse expert Father Hans Zollner and the now-disgraced Cardinal George Pell.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Many survivors have expressed frustration that "nothing has been done" in Ballarat, despite promises and commitments to provide ongoing support, which is what is most needed.
Stephen Woods, a survivor based in Ballarat, is vocal about the need for action to be taken, said the first step is establishing a “dialogue” with community and church leaders.
“There’s so many families that are destroyed and devastated by this,” he said.
“Where’s the leadership in this? Who is giving leadership on this quite potent, poignant time in Ballarat’s history?
“Even if it’s only a temporary thing, in transition, there needs to be some action, because time is wasting away and people are dying, families are still hurting.”
He suggested there is an opportunity for a “healing centre” to be built, an idea echoed by fellow survivor Philip Nagle.
Right now, up to 10 counselling sessions are provided through Medicare, which is not enough, he said - a men’s health centre, as an example, could provide valuable support.
“I know survivors now who have used all their counselling sessions up, that’s a real problem because they’re not well off,” he said.
“It’s a turning point when they can’t get access to those basic things, and obviously it gets difficult.
“People judge (cases) and see it as being about money, but it’s about the care they get for the duration of their lives.”
It’s an opportunity for institutions to do something real for survivors.
“It needs to be not capped ... it needs to be ongoing, and funded by the government and Catholic Church,” he said.
“They’re keen to see to be doing the right thing, so put your hands in your pockets and do it.”
Andrew Collins, another Ballarat-based survivor, said it needed to be a bigger idea than just a building.
“After we’d spoken to Zollner, we said we don’t want a healing centre, we want a centre of healing - we want the solutions to come from Ballarat,” he said.
He suggested a community-based effort, including suicide prevention teams on-call for home visits, to avoid potentially distressing calls to emergency services, a health service for survivors, additional information for Centrelink, which would save people having to retell their stories if they had to reapply, and a day of remembrance.
“What’s wrong with having a day, once a year, survivor’s day, something on the calendar, a local day where Ballarat remembers - we were told that’s pretty easy to do but nothing’s been done,” he said.
He said a permanent public memorial in Ballarat - his preference was in Sturt Street - would respectfully acknowledge the past.
Mr Woods is a supporter of the monument idea, hoping it would be somewhere around Lake Wendouree, to provide a place for quiet reflection.
“Where ... is the monument to the hundreds, or thousands, of victims?” he asked.
“This has been floated by so many people, but it’s been years in the making.”
There are promising signs, however.
Mr Collins said Ballarat’s St Patrick’s College is an example of an institution acknowledging its past and doing something about it, and praised headmaster John Crowley.
“He’s put something in place there that’s real and concrete that helps people, that can be taken to every other school in Ballarat,” he said.
“That’s the sort of stuff we need more of, but he hasn’t got funding for that - you’d think The Vatican would help out.”
Mr Crowley said the school used its alumni database to link survivors of abuse suffered at the school to old scholars able to help out, assisted by Peter Blenkiron.
“Peter identifies those that need our help, and it’s the job of our officer to engage the many past students and current families who have agreed to donate their resources, expertise, and skills, and we work through our database and make contact with various people who can help to provide support based on the need at that moment,” he explained - this could be anything from someone needing storage space, to dental work.
“It’s an example for the community that schools have the capacity to be able to provide essential assistance, in galvanising our Old Collegians Association, we can provide support to those who need our help, those who have been wounded at our school, and those we are fundamentally committed to supporting,” he added.
“We’ve had to make the decision that the employment of an alumni officer for this role is a significant investment, however, we believe that as a community of gospel people, that this is a pathway that is required of us all.
“Through so many conversations with victims and survivors over the last four years, the college is aware that the most desperate need is the day-to-day practical support.”
The Catholic Diocese of Ballarat has previously improved its child protection policies, and paid millions of dollars in compensation to survivors, separate to the National Redress Scheme.
Affected by this story?
The Centre Against Sexual Assault Ballarat has urged people affected to seek help if needed.
"We encourage anyone who has been affected by sexual assault to seek support," a spokesperson said,
"At Ballarat CASA we listen, provide support and advocacy in addition to acknowledging your experiences and the impact it may have had on your life."
People can arrange a one-off session, or they can look to have ongoing counselling.
The centre also offers advocacy and case management.
Phone CASA, Sebastopol, on 5320 3933, email casa@bhs.org.au, or free-call the crisis care line on 1800 806 292.
Phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, or Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
