Promised redress scheme for stare care victims overdue
Before 1990, 90,000 Victorian children were put into state care, often suffering brutal treatment at the hands of those trusted to keep them safe. A promised redress scheme for these people, known as care leavers, has stalled triggering claims that the state Government has betrayed victim-survivors.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 Terry Helman hasn't been back to this Surrey Hills orphanage since he left nearly 60 years ago.
00:07 It's a bit surreal, you know, after that many years. I never thought I'd get back actually, to see the place.
00:14 Not happy memories. You know, there were a lot of kids here, over 100 kids, but you always felt like you were on your own.
00:23 They weren't very loving people, the nuns.
00:26 Mr Helman is one of 90,000 Victorian kids who were put in state care prior to 1990.
00:32 He was taken from his parents at just two months old. His care was often brutal.
00:37 She used to belt the kids with a cricket bat.
00:40 Mr Helman suffered sexual and physical abuse and wonders whether his life would have turned out differently if it wasn't for the cruel care he endured.
00:48 I didn't trust people and I'll admit I drank a lot.
00:52 But they crossed their spirits, yeah.
00:56 I don't hear of too many that went on and did better things.
00:59 Last year, then Premier Daniel Andrews promised a redress scheme for the physical and emotional trauma suffered in state care.
01:06 Anything we can do, we must do.
01:08 It was meant to be ready by the end of the year and be co-designed by victim survivors.
01:13 But Peakbody Clan says it's yet to be consulted.
01:16 The government also promised hardship payments while the scheme was being designed.
01:20 That too is overdue.
01:22 CEO Leonie Sheedy says three members died in July waiting for redress.
01:27 The redress must be progressed this year, you know, otherwise it's just another broken promise and it's another betrayal to Victorian care leavers.
01:35 And we've had enough.
01:37 We will be issuing the apology before the end of the year that acknowledges their pain, their suffering, their hurt, their trauma.
01:45 We will be working with them to co-design the redress scheme.
01:50 Mr Hellman says redress is about much more than money.
01:54 Let people know they're done wrong by, whatever. Make them feel better.
01:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]