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Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry

Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry

This Royal Commission is an independent inquiry into abuse in state care and in the care of faith-based institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand.

0800 222 727

Weekdays 8:30am - 4:30pm

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  • (English) He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu
  • Volume 1
  • 1.3 Concepts of harm and restoration and framing principles
  • What it means to be trauma-informed
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What it means to be trauma-informed

Trauma has neurological, biological, psychological, spiritual, social and cultural impacts. Many survivors find talking about their abuse traumatic and distrust authority. Anyone working with survivors must be sensitive to the impacts of trauma and not do further harm. The trauma informed approach asks what has happened to someone, not what is wrong with them. A trauma-informed approach for Māori in particular would need to be supportive of whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori, or communities, consider intergenerational and historical trauma, and recognise and provide for a te ao Māori worldview and Māori healing concepts.

Trauma-informed care treats people with manaakitia kia tipu – nurturing of people so that they can prosper and grow. It includes treating people with atawhai, or kindness humanity, compassion, dignity, respect and generosity in a manner that upholds their mana. The quality of the relationship that a survivor has with those trying to help them is crucial to their healing – it can facilitate a feeling of safety and security and a survivor’s ability to have hope and trust. 

Trauma-informed care also requires respect for the autonomy of survivors – including scope for survivors to choose their own pathway of utua kia ea. Survivors should have control over how, when, in what form, and to whom they disclose abuse.  They should be empowered to make their own decisions about what works best for them in their healing. A trauma-informed approach to puretumu is collaborative decisions are made with a survivor and not for them.

 

Next: Obligations under te Tiriti o Waitangi

1.3 Concepts of harm and restoration and framing principles
  • 1.3 Concepts of harm and restoration and framing principles
  • Tikanga Māori concepts
  • Pacific peoples’ concepts of harm and restoration
  • Disability rights concepts
  • Other principles relevant to puretumu
  • What it means to be trauma-informed

So far, over 900 survivors have shared their experience. Join them. Ā mohoa nei, neke atu i te 900 purapura ora kua kōrero mai i ō rātou haerenga. Hono mai.

We cannot make any findings, reach conclusions or make recommendations without hearing the voices of those who have the lived experience of state or faith-based care.

Share your experience Kōrerotia mai tō wheako
0800 222 727 contact@abuseincare.org.nz
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  • Mō te Kōmihana a te Karauna About the Royal Commission
    • What the Royal Commission is about
    • How it works
    • Te Tiriti o Waitangi
    • Te Taumata
    • Survivor Advisory Group
    • Terms of Reference
    • Working with Māori
    • Our people
    • Deaf community
    • Pacific community
  • Ā mātou uiui Our inquiries
    • Māori experiences
    • Pacific People's experiences
    • Disabled peoples experience
    • State and faith-based redress
    • State psychiatric care
    • Children's State residential care
    • Anglican Church
    • Catholic Church
  • Kauneketanga Our progress
    • Latest updates
    • Reports
    • News
    • Timeline
    • Document Library
  • Kia whai wāhi mai Get involved
    • Sharing your experience
    • Sharing your experience from prison
  • Mā ngā purapura ora For survivors
    • Getting help and support
    • Legal assistance
    • Questions and answers
    • Survivor stories

If you would like to share your experience or have any questions about being involved please call our Contact Centre on 0800 222 727 weekdays 8:30am to 4:30pm (NZT) excluding public holidays or email: contact@abuseincare.org.nz. Anyone taking part in an investigation will be offered wellbeing support.


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