Panels offers 'dignity'

It may not be offering apologies or compensation, but the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service is giving many people abused while in state care the gift of dignity.

The independent service, established by the Government in 2008, has been travelling the country meeting people who lived in psychiatric hospitals and wards, health camps, child welfare care and special education homes before 1992 to hear about their experiences and concerns.

Those who come forward are heard confidentially by a panel and offered assistance with everything from finding housing to counselling and retrieving files from the Department of Welfare.

Panel chairwoman Judge Carolyn Henwood said it operated like a commission of inquiry, though it did not make findings or test evidence.

"We are not allowed to offer apologies or give any money. We are offering dignity and respect from the State to them."

She had heard many stories of "abuse and neglect, some of it very serious", the majority concerning child welfare care.

"The stories are, nationally, quite similar - there is an awful lot of violence and the treatment is harsh, cruel. I think quite a lot of the neglect is around education ... and that's why the issue of loss of potential and loss of identity is there," she said.

Of about 500 people who had hearings so far, 35 were from Dunedin, although that did not include the prison population. A few hundred more would be heard next year.

"I'm overwhelmed by the attitude of the people coming forward to see us. They are so dignified ... and they are prepared to share some incredible things with us as strangers.

"They seem to appreciate the fact the Government is sending some high-level people to meet with them and listen to them."

The feedback so far had been "very, very, positive".

"We are doing a lot of repair work for these people and that seems to be adding to their sense of well-being."

"You can feel the value. People say 'I have not slept in 40 years, then slept like a log after this'," Judge Henwood said.

Each year, the service compiled a report of those they had seen and how they were helped, but she hoped to be able to report on common themes to "help people sort out their practice".

The service was set to run for just five years, but she expected it would be continued beyond that.

ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz

 

 

 

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