Claims Abuse Inquiry Victims Sent to Church-run Support Agency

ABC - AM
July 26, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3553777.htm

[with audio]

TONY EASTLEY: Victoria's inquiry into abuse by religious and other non-government organisations has offered support to abuse victims wanting to participate in the inquiry.

However there are now claims that some of the agencies offering support to victims in country Victoria are run by the Catholic Church - which is itself facing serious allegations involving hundreds of abuse cases.

Liz Hobday has this report.

LIZ HOBDAY: Ballarat man Peter Blenkiron was abused by a Christian Brother when he was 11 years old.

He wanted support to prepare a submission to the parliamentary inquiry and called the recommended victims of crime helpline.

He says he was referred to an organisation called Centacare, run by the Catholic Archdiocese of Ballarat.

PETER BLENKIRON: We are talking about broken trust again. The Catholic Church are the people that are responsible worldwide for what's going on, they're responsible for what happened to me as an 11 year old. It's beyond belief the things that happen.

LIZ HOBDAY: The parliamentary inquiry was announced in the wake of revelations that at least 40 victims of abuse at the hands of Catholic priests in Victoria had committed suicide.

Helen Last is a victims' advocate from the group In Good Faith and Associates.

She says she's appalled at reports that the helpline is referring people back to one of the organisations involved in the abuse.

HELEN LAST: Anyone that considers this situation will understand immediately that it's like sending someone back to the organisation where the perpetrator is and that is very inappropriate and betraying thing to do to these victims.

LIZ HOBDAY: The Victorian Government says its support services have not referred anyone who's made contact regarding the inquiry to any church-run services and staff have been told that this would not be appropriate.

But Helen Last believes the helpline has also referred victims to Centacare across much of regional Victoria, including the Grampians, Bendigo and Geelong.

HELEN LAST: The Centacare offices have religious symbols in the waiting rooms. They have pictures of the Pope. That is a re-traumatising situation. I think that victims are going to leave these Centacare places and walk out and never come back.

LIZ HOBDAY: The ABC has been told by one victims' advocate that helpline counsellors have objected to referring people who ring in to Centacare and there have been meetings within Victoria's Department of Justice to try to rectify the situation.

Glenn Davies is the former head of the sex crimes unit at Victoria Police.

GLENN DAVIES: This is something that we've addressed and we thought it was being handled appropriately and this wasn't going to happen. But the information we are getting is that it is happening unfortunately and again we will address our concerns with the inquiry.

LIZ HOBDAY: And he says the situation may deter people from getting help.

GLENN DAVIES: I'm just worried about the people who, you might only get one chance for them to get the courage to come forward, get the courage to actually interact with the system again. And then to be scared off by having to go to an area that they see is representative of the Church itself, you know, it's just really concerning for us that that might occur.

LIZ HOBDAY: Labor's shadow attorney-general Martin Pakula says he's also worried by the claims.

MARTIN PAKULA: Centacare has a very strong reputation in the welfare sector. They are a very good organisation. But I'm not sure that decision passes the common sense test.

I would be surprised if victims in regional Victoria who've been the subject of abuse would feel comfortable going to Centacare as their victims' referral service.

I think the committee needs to think very carefully about whether that's an appropriate decision and whether victims importantly would consider it to be appropriate or sensible in the circumstances.

TONY EASTLEY: Shadow attorney-general in Victoria Martin Pakula ending Liz Hobday's report.

Victoria's Justice Department says the Victims Support Agency hasn't referred anyone its dealing with in relation to the parliamentary inquiry to any church-run services.

The ABC also contacted Centacare and was referred to the Catholic Church. The Church says Centacare provides case management but doesn't provide counselling to Church victims of sexual abuse.

The Church says the various Centacare offices will try to establish this morning whether any victims have been referred to it through the inquiry.