Who can I share my experiences of abuse in care with?

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Last updated: January 17, 2025

You can share your experiences with the Survivor Experiences Service 

This is a survivor-led service that was set up to provide a safe space for people who have suffered abuse in care (or are currently suffering abuse in care) to share their experiences.  

The Service will carry out this work until a new independent redress system is introduced by the Government.  

You can share your experiences of abuse in care in a confidential session between you and someone who understands the impact of abuse in care on survivors and their whānau. 

Survivors of abuse in care and their whānau can use the Survivor Experiences Service 

The Service is for people aged 18 or over, who were abused in care.  

It is designed to be inclusive of Māori, Pacific, Deaf, disabled, LGBTQIA+, MVPFAFF+ and Takatāpui survivors, and survivors who are in prison, to enable you to share your story in a safe, supportive and confidential setting.  

The Service is also available to whānau of survivors. 

You can access the Service by phone, email, text, or New Zealand Relay Service 

To use the Service, register by: 

If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or find it hard to talk, you can use the New Zealand Relay Serviceopen_in_new.

A staff member will help you complete your registration and arrange a time and place where you can share your experiences. 

What the Service cannot help you with 

Unfortunately, the Survivor Experiences Service is not designed to help:  

  • survivors under the age of 18 years
  • survivors to receive redress (making things right)
  • with complaints about the Royal Commission, family abuse, Corrections, general medical admissions or aged care.

The Service can help you get your records

The Service also offers support for people who have been abused in care to request, receive, and understand their records.

Find out about the Service’s Records Support.

Learn more about the Survivor Experiences Serviceopen_in_new