THE Christian Brothers Will Provide for Life-long Professional Psychological Counselling for People Who Survived Sexual and Physical Abuse in Their Care.

9 News
May 7, 2014

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2014/05/07/18/03/christian-bros-offer-life-long-counselling

The announcement comes as a senior official in the order says the sale of assets in Western Australia could be used to compensate men abused at four institutions in the state.

Deputy province leader for Oceania, Brother Julian McDonald, says former residents of Castledare, Bindoon, Clontarf and Tardun have access to care and support services if they need them.

"As an immediate step in response to what we have witnessed here in Perth, we commit ourselves now and into the future to provide ongoing professional psychological counselling for abuse survivors of our Western Australian institutions," he said in a statement.

"Such counselling will be provided for as long as necessary.

"We will work with survivors in a manner which responds to their individual circumstances and needs in an atmosphere of dignity, respect and compassion."

A spokesman for the order said while Brother McDonald was speaking directly to the survivors of abuse in Western Australia, the offer of counselling is open to those who suffered abuse at the hands of Christian Brothers across the country.

The announcement was made at the conclusion of public hearings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Perth.

On Wednesday Br McDonald was asked if the proceeds from selling properties in Bindoon and Castledare could be used to compensate the men abused at the schools.

"That's a possibility," Br McDonald replied.

The commission over the past two weeks has heard how the order fiercely defended itself against litigation brought by survivors of the institutions in the 1990s.

"We are open to re-examining cases that have been settled on demonstrably unjust and unreasonably low terms," Br McDonald said.

"We Christian Brothers restate our commitment to continue to talk and work with any victim who feels that he did not receive a fair resolution of his issues.