For apologies for any amount of CSA experienced under any Institution, it would be more than expected that for the Acknowledged (1) and Redress (2) Victims place their greatest relief in receiving an effective apology (x`). Finally having a genuine face-to-face discussion with a leader of one institution, saw the right understandings, messages & impacts be spoken of. From what fealt like most of my life, I heard of these words voiced from a recording, spoken of around a news studio, & contained in interviews, yet none had made the personal involvement that my first apology reached in early 2026.
I felt like I could finally shout my ‘Eureka” moment. It wasn’t that I discovered unfounded gold, yet any time since I have that as a memory to reflect on, which gives me ‘that feeling inside’. Who could have thought that anyone who’d survived through a lifetime of various (hidden) abuses, seemingly picture perfect lifestyle, blacklisted personality after withdrawing from expected lifelong attachments, and being able to remain truthfully honest? I also got to have the first of my personal apologies, after years of breaking away from ingraining of church beliefs, school conditioning, hidden doublespeak (© Orwell), big brothers & sisters, witnessing discrimination from before I could talk this Eureka gave me hope for the rest of my race with Sisyphus. (How many stones do you want up that hill?)
This moment can give hope to more of the other CSA victims, of whether it’s too late to put in a claim, reach out for any counselling help, having a chance to ask for a Living Well booklet (heaps available), or simply posting a message. With a few more years left of the NRS, there is time available for those in need to reach out for help. Getting to this stage is more than what I was after. I hope you can share in this, too.
References
- NRS Application > Acknoledgement
- NRS Redress
- Apologies, How to deliver an effective apology, https://www.ombudsman.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/112484/Factsheet-How-to-deliver-an-effective-apology.pdf