SURVIVORS of child sexual abuse have been issued an apology on behalf of the nation for the decades of inaction that left them exposed to predators.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued the apology in Parliament on Monday, saying that the nation needed to "confront our failure to listen, to believe, and to provide justice".
Following the address, a Riverina survivor has called for less talk and more action.
Gina Swannell, who as a young girl was abused by a Urana priest, had to fight the Catholic Church tooth and nail for compensation for her trauma.
Only after a ferocious mediation process did the church award her damages and offer an official apology.
Mr Morrison said Australia now confronts a trauma, an abomination, hiding in plain sight for far too long.
"To the whistleblowers, who we did not listen to, sorry,” he said.
“To the spouses, partners, wives, husbands, children, who have dealt with the consequences of the abuse, cover-ups and obstruction, sorry.”
To the victims, Mr Morrison said, “I believe you, we believe you, your country believes you”.
“To the spouses, partners, wives, husbands, children, who have dealt with the consequences of the abuse, cover-ups and obstruction, sorry. To generations past and present, sorry,” he said.
Ms Swannell said she attended another apology nearly a decade ago delivered by Kevin Rudd and was frustrated by the lack of action since then.
“I was invited to this one and declined,” she said.
“This is not the first apology and there better not be a third one.
“An apology is useless without action.”
Ms Swannell said she is concerned for survivors who are trying to access the redress scheme, but struggling with the process.
“If they have a criminal history, they are in illegible and the government will not take into account that because of the abuse some children are going to gravitate towards crime,” she said.
Ms Swannell said it was clear the apology was a result of last year's report by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“I am totally grateful for Julia Gillard because she was the one who initiated the process and she should be given kudos,” she said.
"She called for the royal commission and for that, I thank her because without the Royal Commision there would no apology.”
Ms Swannell said she hopes to see a better result for survivors following this apology.
“It is now time for this government to take action and make sure this redress scheme is functioning and compensating victims,” she said.
Ms Swannell said she will continue to fight for the survivors’ cause as long as is necessary.
“I will continue to talk about this until they do the right thing,” she said.
Shannon McMahon, sexual assault counsellor at Wagga Base Hospital said the impact of trauma will be different and varying for each survivor of childhood sexual assault.
“Common diagnoses include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder,” she said.
“The impacts for survivors can be long-lasting and affect their ability to function.
“This may be changeable over time and there are therapeutic interventions available to help support and empower individual survivors in managing these impacts.”
Ms McMahon said impacts can include panic attacks, anxiety, chronic pain, headaches, substance abuse, eating disorders and self-destructive behaviour.
Some victims can also struggle with concerns about not being believed or being blamed and unable to get rid of the feeling of being unclean, Ms McMahon said.
Ms McMahon said there is a range of support services available to adult survivors of childhood sexual assault including Wagga Sexual Assault Service, 59432300, NSW Rape Crisis, 1800 424 017 and Accessline 1800 800 944.
The government also announced they will commit to reporting every year for the next five years on the progress of the royal commission's recommendations.
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