Yesterday, the Government announced it is expanding eligibility under the National Redress Scheme for Institutionalised Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018. This will allow former child migrants who were sent to Australia from the United Kingdom and Malta, to apply to the National Redress Scheme (the Scheme).
While welcoming this news, the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse notes that inter-country adoptees, who are victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, have not yet been given the same privilege.
Speaking on the experience of inter-country adoptees, Lynelle Long, who is also a member of our Survivor-led Adult College, said: “The State/Institution takes us, places us, assesses our adoptive family, theoretically screens them, educates them, matches us to them, and deems them “eligible” to adopt. If the institution that was so intricately involved with placing us “gets it wrong” (in hindsight), and we are abused by the people chosen by them to be our “parents” – how is it that they can escape having “no responsibility” for any part in our abuse? I argue that being adopted should not deem us as being outside “institutional care from a long-term perspective” or without any opportunity for redress.”
To learn more about inter-country adoptee voices, visit: https://intercountryadopteevoices.com/about/
CEO at the National Centre, Dr Leanne Beagley PhD Beagley said “we have a responsibility to all children who have experienced child sexual abuse to ensure there is belief, recognition, support and healing.”
For more information on the Redress Scheme go to: https://www.nationalredress.gov.au/
