Psychologists respond to Royal Commission report
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) welcomes the report by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on redress and civil litigation and supports the report’s recommendations.
The Commission’s report, which was released on Monday 15 September, contains 99 recommendations aimed at providing justice to victims of child sexual abuse in institutions, including establishing a single national redress scheme.
APS Executive Manager of Professional Practice Dr Louise Roufeil said, “The social and emotional toll of sexual abuse is enormous and redress must come in a range of forms, including public acknowledgement of wrongs, monetary compensation and assistance to heal.”
The APS endorses the Royal Commission’s recommendations, in particular the recognition that psychological care is a critical element of appropriate redress for survivors.
Dr Roufeil said that the recommendations reflect the very real psychological and practical needs of survivors and the difficulty they currently experience in accessing sufficient and appropriate care to meet these needs.
“The Commission has acknowledged the effects of child sexual abuse on mental wellbeing and recommended significantly expanding access to psychological care throughout a survivor’s life,” Dr Roufeil said.
The Royal Commission also endorsed the APS recommendation that practitioners must have the appropriate knowledge, skills, and experience to work effectively and safely with survivors, and that this information should be made available to survivors on a public register.
Dr Roufeil added: “We urge the Government to implement the report’s recommendations. If the recommendations are accepted by Government, the APS looks forward to working with service providers, survivor groups and other stakeholders to ensure that enhanced access to appropriate care becomes a reality for survivors.”
For more information, or to arrange an interview call the APS Media team on 03 8662 3358 / 0435 896 444, or email. Find the APS Media team on Twitter: @AustPsych
The APS is the largest professional organisation for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 27,000 members. The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to people’s lives, through improving psychological knowledge and community wellbeing.