By KATH GANNAWAY
STATE Liberal MP Georgie Crozier will visit Healesville in May to provide a first-hand explanation of the findings and recommendations of the government’s inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations.
Ms Crozier chaired the historic inquiry which included submissions from Healesville victims of convicted Catholic paedophile priests David Daniel and Paul Pavlou.
The report was handed down in November 2013 and some of the recommendations have already been enacted.
Seymour MP and Liberal candidate for the new seat of Eildon Cindy McLeish organised the meeting on 12 May saying the report was of interest to people in Healesville.
Ms McLeish said strengthening the criminal law, making access to civil litigation easier for victims and establishing a new independent avenue for victims were just some of the key recommendations.
“I know this report is of interest to many in the Healesville and wider community, some of whom had the enormous courage to come forward with their own personal accounts,” she said.
“For this we can be very grateful as it strengthened the fabric and outcome of the inquiry.”
Ian Lawther and Pam Krstic are among Healesville residents connected with victims of Daniel and Pavlou who lobbied for the inquiry and for the Federal Government’s Royal Commission which is currently underway.
They have cautiously welcomed the public meeting, saying anything that gets people talking about the issue is a good thing.
Mr Lawther said he hoped people, especially those who don’t know what happened, and what needs to happen to protect children in the future, will take the time to attend.
“I hope people will go along and see what this was all about in the Healesville context and that they may gain a broader understanding of the issues,” he said.
Ms Krstic, who was a teacher at St Brigid’s Catholic School when both men were the parish priests, said while discussion was welcome, there needed to be support on hand when such a potentially traumatic topic is opened up for discussion.
“In a community where there has been abuse, you would hope various community organisations that might be around to support people would be at the meeting,” she said.
“If the audience is ordinary people who just want to know, then you could maybe have a meeting without this sort of support but if there are victims, perhaps some who have not disclosed, parents of victims, or others who are affected, then you need to have strategies in place for information and for support,” she said.
Ms McLeish told the Mail on Monday that Ms Crozier was very aware of the sensitivities and the impact on individuals and communities and that there would be information available about support on the night.
The Healesville forum comes as the Federal Government’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is calling on survivors of child sexual abuse to come forward and share their stories.
The Parliamentary Child Abuse Inquiry Healesville Forum is on Monday 12 May at the Darron Honey Centre of the Healesville Uniting Church from 6.30pm to 8pm.
Further information is available from Ms McLeish’s office on 5799 2760.
