Indigenous residents offered briefing on child abuse royal commission

ABC Indigenous
June 16, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-16/indigenous-residents-to-get-briefing-on-child/5525564/?site=indigenous&topic=latest

An Aboriginal legal service is encouraging Indigenous people in north-west Victoria to consider sharing their stories at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

There has been an overwhelming response from survivors of sexual abuse wanting to talk to the commissioners during private sessions.

This week, legal forums in Mildura for Indigenous people will outline how to give evidence or make a written statement to the commission, as well as the counselling and support service available.

The legal office, Know More, was set up to serve people wanting to contribute to the royal commission.

The senior solicitor, Laura McDonough, says this is the first information session of its kind for Indigenous people in Victoria.

"We've heard a lot of stories about Stolen Generations people and their experiences in institutions," she said.

The forums will be held tomorrow and Wednesday and more sessions are planned in Gippsland.