Survivors of Abuse in Care Support Network
Who they are
The Survivor Experiences Service is a safe, supportive, confidential place for survivors of abuse in care to share their experiences.
It started 3 July 2023 in response to a recommendation by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in state and faith-based care.
It is an opportunity for survivors of abuse in care to heal and a way for their experiences to be heard, validated and acknowledged.
Who the service is for
The Service is for people who were abused in state, faith-based or other forms of care (e.g., private schools, non-governmental organisations). It is for direct survivors and is also open to hearing the experiences of whānau.
How to share experiences
People can contact the Survivor Experiences Service to register with the Service and share their experiences of abuse in care.
- Phone - 0800 456 090 (NZ) 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday – Friday
- Phone - 1-800 456 032 (AUS) 8:30am – 4:30pm (NZT), Monday – Friday
- Text - 8328
Once people have contacted, they will work with them to complete their registration, organise any short-term support specific to our service, and arrange a time and place where they can share their experiences.
How people share their experiences is up to them. People can choose to share their experience in a number of ways, including kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face), virtually, or in writing.
If people are sharing their experience face to face, they can bring whānau and other support people to their session.
Tailored and accessible services
The services are tailored to people’s unique needs and create a non-judgemental space.
Māori, Pacific, Deaf and disabled, LGBTQIA+, MVPFAFF, Takatāpui, and survivors in prison remain at the forefront of our minds and play a key role in the way the service is run.
Available support
We understand that by sharing these experiences, people and whānau may experience some distress or resurfacing of memories.
People’s mana and oranga (wellbeing) are at the centre of our interactions with them and whānau.
People can request support at any stage. The earlier people talk with us about their needs, the more time we will have to ensure the most suitable support is put in place.
While the Survivor Experiences Service cannot provide long-term support, providers such as ACC or community providers might be able to assist.
Independent Board
The Service is survivor-led, by survivors for survivors. It is guided by an independent Board, which includes survivors of abuse from diverse backgrounds, and our staff have experience with survivors who have been abused in care.
Website
For more information about the Survivor Experiences Service, visit: www.survivorexperiences.govt.nz