A ST ALBANS resident who endured years of abuse in children’s homes in the 1950s has welcomed the royal commission into institutional abuse.
Keith Broadbent was one 500,000 Australian and migrant children put into institutional care last century.
He told the Weekly the inquiry into abuse in Australian churches, charities, state government, schools and community organisations was grossly overdue.
Mr Broadbent said he was nine when the mental, physical and sexual abuse began.
His nightmare continued for six years.
Authorities had taken him into care after he was caught stealing fruit to feed his siblings.
“It has hurt so many children and destroyed people’s lives,” he said. “I struggled for a long time, feeling depressed about what happened to me.
“When you are a child you don’t understand what’s happening to you – and for most it’s not until 20 years later when the trauma of it all sinks in.”
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the commission last week amid a flood of fresh allegations about systematic abuse and cover-up by the Catholic Church in NSW.
Announcement of the commission coincides with Victoria’s state parliamentary inquiry into the dealing of sexual abuse by clergy.
Thousands of non-profit groups, including sports clubs and Scout troops, will be included in the investigation, which will extend far beyond the Catholic Church and other religious orders that have been the focus of sex abuse concerns in the past.
Cardinal George Pell said Australian bishops would co-operate fully with the investigation. But he defended the Catholic church’s dealing of complaints and said the media had targeted a “general smear” campaign against the church.
Mr Broadbent said victims had endured “enough tragedy” in their lives.
He said many had committed suicide and been unable to maintain relationships, while some remained too afraid to reveal what happened to them.
“Men are the worst for it. They don’t speak about it . . . I think there is a lot of shame associated with it if you are a man.”
He hoped the royal commission would encourage victims to speak out.
“I think the greatest hope in all of this is that the truth comes out and that the perpetrators are punished for their crimes,” he said.
“There need to be laws put in place that stop this from ever occurring again.”
Care Leaver Australia Network executive officer Leonie Sheedy said governments, churches, charities and organisations must be held accountable for criminal assaults, rapes, child labour and the neglect of children.
“It is now time for these organisations to assist in healing and repairing people’s shattered lives,” she said.
“They deserve justice and reparation from the government for what has been done to them.”
The commission’s terms of reference are being drawn up. It is expected to start at the beginning of next year.
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