Aboriginal community organisations in Broome, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek and Kununurra will meet with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse next week.
Chief Executive Officer, Ms Janette Dines, said the meetings will focus on how to make it easier for Aboriginal people to engage with the Royal Commission, and how Aboriginal community organisations can support community members who may wish to come forward and tell their story.
“The Royal Commission is committed to giving Aboriginal people a voice,” said Ms Dines.
From 19 to 24 August, Commissioners Helen Milroy and Andrew Murray will meet with representatives of the Kimberley Stolen Generations, Yawuru community leaders, Aboriginal legal and medical services, sexual assault and mental health services and the Kimberley Land Council to explain how the Royal Commission works and learn about the extent of institutional child sexual abuse in the Kimberley region.
Ms Dines said this was the first in a series of visits to the Kimberley over the coming months.
“We will be back in March 2014 for more community meetings, and then mid-year to meet with people who want to tell their story to the Royal Commission,” said Ms Dines. “The Royal Commission will return to Western Australia as many times as it takes to hear people’s stories”.
The Royal Commission encourages people who were sexually abused as a child in an Australian institution to register to tell their story to the Royal Commission by phone 1800 099 340 or email contact@childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au.
