On 9 March, the Commonwealth, Victorian and NSW Governments announced their agreement to a Redress Scheme for people who were sexually abused as children in institutional settings.
This scheme is intended to commence on 1 July 2018, and is in response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Read the joint Redress Scheme announcement here.
CFA, as an institution, will be participating in the Victorian Government’s response to this issue, which has affected many areas of the community, including our own CFA community of volunteers and staff. Find out more about the Redress Scheme here.
CFA has established a specialised support service for survivors of historic child sexual abuse, following ongoing consultation with a number of survivors.
CFA has been contacted by a small number of survivors who were sexually assaulted while part of the CFA in the early 1980s. All of these reported cases have been subject to police investigations, with those involved charged, prosecuted and no longer involved with CFA.
CFA has now set up a specialised support service through a partnership with the Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA). The service will provide access to confidential counselling for individuals and their families.
CFA Chief Executive Officer Paul Smith and Chief Officer Steve Warrington said the organisation had established this support service in acknowledgment of the hurt and trauma survivors have endured.
What happened was wrong and we are committed to working with affected individuals to assist in the healing process for survivors.
CFA has already implemented measures to strengthen Working with Children Check (WWCC) protocols across the organisation, and is improving its child safety standards. Information on CFA’s current child safety programs is available here.
Anyone needing support can contact the CASA service line on (03) 9594 2289.