Between 1950 to 1999, a significant number of those removed from their families and placed in care were from Pacific communities. Of those placed in care, Pacific survivors have been over-represented as survivors of abuse in both State care and the care of faith-based institutions.

Survivors and the power of their voices – individually and collectively – are at the heart of what we do. 

Hearing directly from Pacific survivors and witnesses (this could be a family member or a staff member) helped the Inquiry paint a picture of the unique experiences of Pacific peoples in care. It provides an opportunity to make recommendations that, will transform the way we care for our people in the future. Pacific peoples are the experts of their own experience and we want to ensure their voices are heard.

A survivor-led process

The team embeds the Pacific values of respect, family, reciprocity, collectivism and spirituality when engaging with those who wished to share their story. Ensuring Pacific peoples are welcomed and feel comfortable connecting with staff, choosing how they would like to work with the Inquiry and getting the support they need is the basis of our process.