Direct Personal Response and Restorative Engagement work
Restorative Engagement is a process where survivors of abuse have the opportunity to meet with a representative of the organisation which is accountable for these actions to have their experience heard, acknowledged and validated. This allows them to discuss the events they experienced and the impacts this had upon them and others, both at the time and since, and often to express the changes they wish to see or detail the lessons they want the organisation to learn. This process involves a direct personal response from the representative that includes an apology from the organisation.
Anthony began doing restorative work in the late 2000’s with Juvenile Justice Youth Conferences where young offenders met with the victims of their crimes to address the impacts of their actions and establish innovative and meaningful ways to respond to the harm they had caused.
Anthony has also been facilitating Restorative Engagement conferences for survivors of abuse in the Defence Forces since 2017 through the highly respected Defence Force Ombudsman’s model that grew out of the Royal Commission and DART (Defence Abuse Response Taskforce.) Anthony is also listed as a facilitator on the Government panel that is able to be accessed by participants on the National Redress scheme. Anthony has also assisted people in direct personal responses with Victims Services in NSW facilitating conferences for survivors who have experienced abuse in foster care and as residents of children’s homes run by the State Government. Anthony has also facilitated direct personal responses with Church Groups in the Northern Rivers for survivors and members of their families who have experienced abuse in children’s homes run by the Church or directly from clergy. More recently Anthony has been a facilitator on the pilot program for the Territories Stolen Generations Redress scheme assisting in preparing and facilitating face to face restorative engagement conferences as well as assisting Representatives with letter writing for survivors.
Anthony is also available to conduct this work privately with organisations, particularly those involved with the Nation Redress scheme, and is able to travel to accomodate this. Please contact him directly to explore options.