Counselling and support will be provided for all survivors engaging with the inquiry.

We encourage all survivors to talk with our Contact and Support Team about how we can best meet your needs.

As your wellbeing and that of all who are engaging with the commission is important to us. Please note that when you choose to engage with the Royal commission into abuse to share your experiences in State and Faith based care, you may experience some distress. You can discuss any further supports you may need with us at any time.

You can ask for support at any stage of your engagement with us. We can provide support before, during and after a private session. We can also provide support if you are a witness in a public hearing.

The earlier you can talk with us about your needs, the more time we will have to ensure the most suitable support is put in place for you.

Support is provided by registered (or equivalent) mental health professionals or approved providers. Counselling and support can be provided by someone you are already working with, Royal Commission Wellbeing advisors or external providers.

We will work with you to put together a ‘package of care’ to suit your needs and values. This could include paying for support you already have, or arranging additional support.

You can access short-term support at different times depending on when you engage with us.  While the Commission cannot provide long-term support, we can refer you to other providers, such as ACC or community providers, to receive long-term support.

Short-term support (approximately 4-6 counselling sessions) for survivors will be paid for by the Commission.