Prime Minister to deliver National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

On Monday 22 October, at Parliament House in Canberra, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, will deliver the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. Official proceedings will commence at 11:00am AEDT in the house of Representatives. The proceedings will continue in the Great Hall where The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition the Hon Bill Shorten MP will address victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

The apology was developed on the advice of an independent, survivor-focused reference group and from consultations with communities throughout Australia. This process ran from May to July this year.

Caroline Carroll, Chair of the Alliance for Forgotten Australians said, “This is an important part of the healing process for many of us who suffered terribly in institutional ‘care’ last century.”

Seating in the Great Hall for the Apology was decided by national ballot earlier this year and support organisations were also given allocated seating. However, extensive seating will be available on the lawns of Federation Mall outside Parliament House. This area is open for people to attend who were unsuccessful in the ballot. In this area, survivors, families and supporters will be able to sit together.

State and territory governments will also be hosting local Apology events around Australia for survivors not located in Canberra. For details in your location, please click here. A number of support organisations will also host Apology events around Australia. For details about support organisation events, please click here.

PCA recognises that this event will not make up for the loss of a childhood or right the wrongs of the past. We hope that this event is a step toward recognising the Forgotten Australians and their experiences. Due to their courage, we have been given the knowledge and the tools to prevent more children from experiencing the horrors that the Forgotten Australians endured.