Updates on Inquiry into Abuse in Care, including RFP for Kaupapa Māori providers
Tue 08 Sep 2020
This News article collates updates from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
The Royal Commission provides regular updates on the news section of their website, their Facebook page and their pānui.
Request for Proposals (RFP) for Kaupapa Māori providers
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is currently requesting proposals from providers who are working with whānau, communities and individuals in a culturally safe and trauma informed manner. The closing date is 14 September 2020.
More information and the process to submit a proposal is on the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) website. The documents available through GETS state the Inquiry is seeking to fund kaupapa Māori non-government organisations (NGOs) to provide a kaupapa Māori approach that supports care-experienced individuals and/or whānau to engage and register with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse. This would be for 12 months starting in October 2020.
According to the documents available through GETS, the Inquiry is seeking kaupapa Māori providers to:
- "note increased promotion and profile of the Inquiry within Māori communities across New Zealand
- implement a kaupapa approach to engage with Māori communities and care experienced survivors thereby driving Māori registrations to the Inquiry
- engage your already, existing client base with a focus on Māori care experienced survivors
- provide a wellbeing component for up to 40 care experienced individuals
- support referrals of care experienced survivors to register with the Royal Commission."
Series of investigations into settings, themes and issues
The Royal Commission has published information about the eight investigations the Inquiry will conduct. These are:
- Redress – State and faith
- Māori experiences of abuse in care
- Pacific people’s experience of abuse in care
- Abuse in children’s state residential care
- Abuse in State psychiatric care
- Case study examining abuse at the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit
- Abuse in disability care and the experience of people with disabilities
- Abuse in the care of the Catholic Church
- Case study examining abuse of children at Marylands School
- Abuse in the care of the Anglican Church
Upcoming public hearings
The Inquiry has announced new dates for two public hearings on redress in October and November 2020. The hearings were postponed due to COVID-19. The term ‘redress’ is actions and steps that set right, remedy or provide reparations for harms or injuries caused by a wrong, such as abuse. Redress can include apologies, counselling or financial compensation. The first hearing will focus on the experience of survivors in seeking redress for abuse and/or neglect in State care. The second hearing will focus on the Crown’s response to the survivor evidence and experience, and examine what processes have been, and still are, available to people who have been abused in care.
A separate hearing on Faith-Based Redress will be held in November-December 2020. The Royal Commission will investigate the adequacy of redress and what needs to be done to support people who have been abused or neglected in Faith-based institutions.
Make a submission in writing
Survivors can share their story in writing rather than speaking at a public hearing. Literacy support is available for survivors who require assistance with reading and writing to complete the submission - contact the Royal Commission on 0800 222 727.
MoU with VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai
The Inquiry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai to help ensure care-experienced children and young people can share their experiences with the Inquiry. VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai was established in 2017 as a non-government organisation to advocate for children with care experience, including children in foster or whānau care.
Inquiry Commissioners
Julia Steenson (Ngāti Whātua, Waikato/Tainui) has been appointed as a Commissioner to the Inquiry. The other members of the Royal Commission include Chair Judge Coral Shaw, Sandra Alifovae, Andrew Erueti and Paul Gibson. Read more about the members of the Royal Commission.
Related media
State processes for investigating abuse in care 'broken' - lawyer, RNZ, 21.09.2020
Survivor of abuse in state care believes his abuser had offended before, Stuff, 21.09.2020
State abuse inquiry makes slow progress, RNZ, 20.09.2020
Royal Commission into abuse appoints fifth Commissioner, RNZ, 17.06.2020
Abuse survivors worried they lack a voice at inquiry, RNZ, 11.05.2020
Image: Kieran Somerville from Pixabay
