Imagine that your daughter has told you she has been abused by someone close to her, a family member.
Now imagine going to the police, only to be told there’s nothing they can do – or worse, that you’re making it up.
A new video from national child protection advocates Bravehearts shows the shocking difficulties faced by a mother after discovering her two daughters have been abused by a relative.
The woman recounts her own initial struggle to accept what has happened and then the challenges she faced trying to bring the perpetrator to justice.
“What do you do when this happens to you?” she asks.
“My daughter says to me ‘Mum, why didn’t you help me?’
“It’s very difficult to prove abuse because it happens within the family and it’s behind closed doors, there’s not often a witness present.”
Bravehearts are pushing for urgent reforms to Australia’s family law system, which they describe as “fundamentally flawed”.
In 2013, they called on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to expand its terms of reference to include the culture and practices of the family law system into its terms of reference, but were denied.
“We are seeing far too many poor outcomes due to a combination of failures which ultimately culminate at the exit door of the family courts. Too often children are not being heard and their testimonies disregarded or disbelieved,” Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston.
“We cannot continue to tinker at the edges of a broken system. We need major reform and we need it urgently.”
Parents in need of support can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831.
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Top Comments
there needs to be a safe place in each state that is like a one stop shop, I have been in this unfortunate position of having to report abuse of myself and a child and finally getting the story to the right person who could help was VERY difficult. In the end it was Bravehearts that made the difference, it has taken almost 3 yrs but finally a trial is imminent. If i could have gone to a compassionate place where there were counsellors and coffee, and the right people to take a statement, it would be so much more human, and perhaps more people may come forward if they feel there is a safe place to do so. Expecting traumatised victims to sit in a police interview room is very counterproductive.
incredibly powerful video capturing the turmoil parents and children endure at the exit door of the family court. Why won't Turnbull or Shorten make this a priority?!