Restorative justice for child sexual abuse victims

Source: (2014) Eureka Street. 24(22).

Might total focus on stringent practice and policy design be creating a hole where all that is heard is the drone to
‘moved on’? I listen and still hear whispering whimpers. There is something missing from the current lexicon. Where
are the stories of people gathering to help mend and heal themselves and the victims of this horri􀃑c episode in our
history?
I was brought to these questions after reading an account of how a family engaged with one of their own, who is the
victim of severe sexual abuse. In this case, four siblings and their families gathered with their younger brother in what
is called a restorative conference – conducted by Real Justice Australia – in order to come to a deeper understanding
of how each of them had been a􀃖ected by an incident that had occurred over thirty years ago. (excerpt)