Today the Director-General of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, alongside the Government, and other Chief Executives will apologise for the abuse suffered in state care between 1950-1999.
“This is an important step in addressing the findings from the Inquiry and to continue to learn lessons from harm done in the past,” says Dr Sarfati.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care began on 1 February 2018 and the final report was tabled in parliament on 24 July 2024. The Inquiry investigated and reported on the abuse in state care of children, adolescents, young people and adults. The report showed failures in the public health system to protect people in state care.
Of the 139 recommendations in the Report, around 79 have been identified as broadly relevant to the health space, including mental health. Many of the recommendations will require cross-agency collaboration and the Ministry of Health will be part of a wider system response. This includes a move away from state residential care.
The Ministry also operates its Historic Abuse Resolution Service for people who were abused in state-run psychopaedic and psychiatric facilities prior to 1 July 1993.
You can watch the public apology below:
For people wanting to access wellbeing support prior to and after the apology event, a helpline, Safe to Talk is available 24/7:
- Phone: 0800 044 334
- Free txt: 4334
- Email: [email protected]
