This month, our thoughts are with the members of the IGFF community who are affected by the floods in Queensland and New South Wales. Our Casework Team has been in touch with clients in flood-affected areas, and are working to ensure they have access to support.
With the natural disasters, ongoing pandemic, and confronting daily updates in the news, it has been a challenging time for many people. If you would like to check in with a member of our Casework Team, you can give us a call on 1300 12 4433 or email [email protected].
This newsletter provides updates on our Comedy for a Cause fundraiser, upcoming Melbourne Victims’ Collective meeting, and other resources and developments.
For more information and regular updates you can check out our website, Facebook page, LinkedIn or Youtube.
IGFF’s Comedy for a Cause Fundraiser
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came along, shared the event, provided donations or helped out with our fundraiser evening on Friday 4 March! Without you, none of it would have been possible.
The night raised awareness of the work we do. All fund raised on this amazing night, will go directly to supporting our front-line services.
Below is a short gallery of pictures of our board members, team and family members on the night.
Thank you again to everyone who attended!
We’re looking forward to holding a raffle fundraiser in the next few months, with some amazing prizes. Everyone will be able to participate from home so keep your eyes peeled.
In the meantime, you can also always donate directly to our cause via the IGFF website: https://igff.org.au/donate-now/
Melbourne Victims’ Collective Meeting
The first MVC meeting of 2022 is going to be held from 10am-12pm on Friday 25 March. This event will be entirely online, and a great opportunity to hear from speakers, find out key updates, check in and reconnect to the MVC community.
Guest speakers will include Leanne McGaw, Manager of Redress Policy and Children and Families Support at the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. She will provide a broad update, and then focus on accessing services in regional and remote areas.
If you have any questions about how the meeting will run, or would like to come along to the meeting, you can get in touch with our team on 1300 12 4433 or by emailing [email protected] to find out more.
National Redress Scheme Research
Whereto, an independent social research company, is researching community awareness and understanding of the National Redress Scheme.
This research aims to improve how the government communicates about the Scheme, in response to the second year review of the Scheme, which called for improved communication to increase awareness and build trust in the Scheme for Survivors, as well as better communicating the availability of support services.
Survivors, family members, supporters and other community members are invited to take part, with two different ways people can get involved:
- People affected by institutional child sexual abuse, including family members and supporters of Survivors, are invited to register their interest in taking part in individual or group discussions to co-design a communication program for the National Redress Scheme. Find out more and register your interest here.
- Anyone who would like to take part can fill out an online survey about your awareness and understanding of the National Redress Scheme. It does not ask you to disclose personal experiences and will take about 15 minutes to complete. It is open until 31 March 2022. Find out more and complete the survey here.
You can change your mind about participating at any time. If you want to talk about how IGFF can support you to give feedback on your experiences by calling our team on 1300 12 4433 or emailing [email protected].
In recent News…
Stolen Generations Redress Schemes in the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Jervis Bay and Victoria
Aboriginal Victorians who were removed from their families in Victoria before December 31 1976 will be able to access redress payments as part of the state’s reparation package. As Bangerang and Wiradjuri elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, co-chair of the First People’s Assembly, is quoted in the ABC:
“The damage inflicted on our people when government authorities ripped families apart and stole our children runs across generations and the disadvantage it caused is ongoing.
I don’t believe there is anything that can heal that trauma or ever repay that loss but the scheme announced today will go some way to helping people address the disadvantage caused by the inhumane practices our people have been subjected to.
[…]
But here we are – still proudly practising our culture and speaking our languages. We have the oldest living culture in the world, we know a thing or two about survival, resilience and resistance.”
The Federal Government’s Stolen Generations redress scheme has also opened in the NT, ACT and Jervis Bay. More information can be found on the Scheme’s website.
National Memorial Design Announced
The National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in Canberra is going to be a design created by Jessica Spresser and Peter Besley titled ‘Transparency and Truth’, and will feature pathways framed by glass archways to signify strength, fragility and great resilience, surrounded by wildflowers.
More information about the memorial can be found online here, and images from the design are below.
Knowmore Expands Legal Advice Service
knowmore, the community legal centre that provides free legal advice and support for Survivors, can now provide legal advice and support for people who experienced child sexual abuse in non-institutional settings.
This includes sexual abuse by family members, friends or strangers that happened before a person turned 18: they can provide legal advice to Survivors who are not eligible for the National Redress Scheme.
You can find out more on the knowmore website.
LOUD Fence
In this recent article, Monique Patterson reflects on St Alipius primary school in Ballarat, clergy abuse and the LOUD fence movement.
Since the movement first started in Ballarat, brightly coloured ribbons have appeared outside Catholic churches, schools and responsible institutions across the world. As the movement’s founder, Mauz Hatcher, is quoted, some people do not understand what the ribbons represent:
“They see it more as a protest rather than a show of support. And it’s the show of support that is more meaningful for survivors because I hear that from them all the time. It’s that public show of support that they’ve never had before.”
This month, LOUD Fence also announced their registration as an Australian charity – we look forward to continuing to see their movement and advocacy continue to grow.
