Video: What is a Private Session
Who the Service is for
The Survivor Experiences Service is for people who were abused in state, faith-based, or other forms of care (e.g. private schools, non-governmental organisations). We offer two services for Survivors and whānau:
- Sharing experiences of abuse in care
- Care records support - see our Records Support webpage for more information.
Sharing Experiences
The Survivor Experiences Service aims to create a safe, supportive, confidential place for Survivors of abuse in care to share their experiences.
We aim to provide a space that can support healing for people, allowing their experiences to be heard, validated and acknowledged.
We tailor our services to your unique or cultural needs and create a non-judgemental space.
- Find out more information for Māori Survivors
- Find out more information for Pacific Survivors
- Find out more information for Deaf Survivors (includes NZSL videos)
- Find out more information for Disabled Survivors (includes information in Easy Read, Large Print, Braille, Audio)
- Find out more information for LGBTQIA+, MVPFAFF+, Takatāpui Survivors
- Find out more information for Survivors in prison
- Find out more information for Rangatahi Survivors
How to share your experiences
You can contact us to register with the Service and share your experiences of abuse in care.
- Phone - 0800 456 090 (NZ) 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday
- Phone - 1-800 456 032 (AUS) 8:30am – 4:30pm NZT Monday – Friday
- Email - contact@survivorexperiences.govt.nz
- Text - 8328
- If you are Deaf, deafblind, speech impaired or find it hard to talk, you can use the New Zealand Relay Service - www.nzrelay.co.nz (external link)
Video: About our Contact and Support team
Once you have contacted us, we will help you complete your registration. We will also help organise any short-term support specific to our Service. We will then arrange a time and place where you can share your experiences.
You can share your experiences with someone who understands abuse in care and its impact for Survivors and whānau.
How you share your experiences is up to you. You can choose to share your experience in a number of ways, including kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face), virtually, or in writing.
If you are sharing your experience face to face, you can bring your whānau and other support people with you to your session.
Wellbeing support
Sharing your experiences of abuse in care, or receiving your records, can be emotionally difficult.
We provide wellbeing support to help reduce the impact of this and support you while you engage with our service.
You may be able to receive:
- Up to 6 sessions of counselling, therapy, art therapy, or massage / mirimiri, OR
- Other short term wellbeing support that is meaningful to you,
Support is available to help with the impacts of when you share your story with us or receive your care records.
If, while working with you, we notice you may need other types of support, we will talk with you about this.
With your agreement, we can help connect you with other services that may be better placed to support your needs beyond our service.
We aim to provide support that respects your culture, identity, and access needs, including for Māori, Pasifika, Deaf Survivors, and people with disabilities.
Talk with our team about what support might help. Support is offered at your pace, with care and respect.
If you need emergency support, or other forms of support, please visit our Get Support webpage for information about 24/7 helplines
We understand that by sharing these experiences you and your whānau may experience some distress or resurfacing of memories of these experiences.
Your mana and oranga (wellbeing) are at the centre of our interactions with you and your whānau.
While the Survivor Experiences Service cannot provide long-term support, providers such as ACC or community providers may be able to assist you.
Privacy
Your privacy is our priority. We want you to feel comfortable to share your experiences, so it is important that you understand how your information will be kept and used. To find out more information about how we protect your privacy, please see our Privacy webpage.
What the Service cannot provide
The Service cannot perform any form of redress. This is part of the Government’s work on its response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. To find out more about the work visit: Crown response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry
We are also not designed to hear concerns or complaints about the Royal Commission. We did not have oversight or input into the Royal Commission’s final report. The Service is independent of the Royal Commission, with its own independent board.
Resources for Survivors
You can read our Information Booklet to know more about sharing your experiences with the Service: