OUR SERVICES
Why We Help
By having the courage to speak up, survivors can hand their shame, anger, hate and guilt, back to its rightful owner – the perpetrator.
The Voice Of A Survivor was established in 2017, in the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Our founder, Russell Manser, was a victim of institutional sexual abuse while serving time in jail, and he spoke out at the royal commission.
He’s passionate about helping others, and has made it his life’s work to support survivors through the process of healing and reparation.
As a support service assisting survivors of institutional abuse, ‘The Voice’ has helped over 6,500 victims of sexual and physical abuse move forward with their lives; and in 2019, the consultancy became registered company.
Our focus is on ensuring victims receive the apology, compensation and justice they deserve.
How We Help
We guide you through the legal process.
We start by providing a safe, private environment in which to tell your story. Our approach to interviewing makes it easier for you to provide the facts necessary to begin the process – and we guarantee confidentiality.
Once the relevant facts are established, we put you in contact with the law firm and other service providers that we believe are the people best suited to help you. Then we continue to advocate for you and support you through every step of the process.
We strive to ensure a positive experience.
Sadly, many clients come to us with a complete lack of faith in the legal process, due to their past experiences with ‘the system’.
Be assured the lawyers we work with are committed to achieving the best outcome for you – and they’ll treat you with respect, kindness and understanding throughout the process.
Where necessary, we’ll bridge the ‘cultural gap’ between you and your lawyers or service providers. We’ll be your ears and your voice when appropriate; and ensure you have a complete understanding of everything taking place.
We understand what you’ve been through.
Our life experiences ensure we understand our clients, and ‘speak their language’ – that helps us guide you to the best outcome for your situation.
We help lawyers engage with you in a way that’s appropriate and takes heed of your cultural and social circumstances.
If you find yourself struggling with the claim process or related personal and social challenges at any time, we’ll be there to listen, and to help.
We provide help beyond the legal process.
We work closely with a wide network of support service providers and others, including:
- drug and alcohol addiction services
- men’s and women’s shelters
- psychologists and psychiatrists
- corrective services departments
- court diversionary services
- specialist litigation services
- medical support services
We help clients get support from these and other services when needed, and can assist in obtaining necessary documents, such as ID cards and birth certificates.
Where needed, we transport and accompany clients to meetings with their lawyers, psychologist, support groups, and to court should an appearance be required.
These conferences reassure our clients that they’re being heard, and that their story is important. We are also often able to find our clients when the lawyers are not able to contact them, saving time, costs, and ensuring the case is advanced in as timely a manner as possible.
We do what’s necessary to help ensure the best outcome for our clients.
Who We Help
Today, we offer help to all victims of institutional abuse and others.
If you’ve suffered emotional, psychological, physical or sexual abuse, but you’re not sure if it was the fault of an ‘institution’, just contact us for advice.
Institutions can include girls’ homes, boys’ homes, sporting clubs and associations, foster care and other government run entities, boy scouts, girl guides, juvenile detention facilities, jails, religious organisations, public or private school, and more.
Many clients come to us through the recommendation of friends or others in their communities who’ve benefited from our support services.
We support people in the criminal justice system.
We provide support to help incarcerated clients break their cycle of offending, and address any institutional abuse they’ve suffered.
We encourage self-analysis, and we’re uniquely positioned to help through the knowledge that comes from our own lived experiences.
We support Australia’s First Nations people.
In addition to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of sexual or physical abuse in institutions, we’re passionate about helping members of the ‘Stolen Generation’ address the trauma and harm suffered through forced removal from their families.
We also help victims of personal injuries.
Our success in helping victims of institutional abuse has led us to extend our services to assist some victims of personal injury. Call for a chat to see if we are able to help you.
Contact Us Today
For an obligation free chat fill out the form and our supportive team will be in touch.
Head Office:
The Voice Of A Survivor Pty. Ltd.
ABN 25631544744
PO Box 6886,
Coffs Harbour Plaza, NSW, 2450
Sydney Office: 02 8319 4807
Melbourne Office: 03 9021 2041
Perth Office: 08 6245 2111
