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What justice means for victim-survivors

Content note: This page talks about childhood sexual abuse and its impacts. It is not graphic, but it may be distressing. Please take care of yourself while reading, and step away whenever you need to. The Quick Exit bar at the bottom of this site will close this page at any time.

For victims-survivors of childhood sexual abuse, justice is not confined to courtrooms and legal proceedings. When survivors describe what justice means to them, common themes include:

  • Telling their story: having a safe space to share.

  • Being believed: trust that their story is taken seriously.

  • Accountability: holding perpetrators responsible.

  • Prevention: ensuring others are not harmed.

  • Moving forward: the ability to heal and move on with life.

Most survivors are motivated to reduce child sexual abuse and keep the community safe. They want perpetrators to stop the behaviour so that other children are not harmed.

The barriers survivors face

The criminal justice system, across all levels, does not meet the needs of most victims-survivors, and those who do engage often find the process traumatising. Some of the challenges include a lack of support before, during and after the court process, a lack of information about what to expect, a lack of cultural safety for First Nations victims-survivors, systems that are not trauma-informed, and a lack of alternative pathways.

These barriers extend beyond the criminal courts. National Centre commissioned research has found that children and non-offending parents who raise child sexual abuse are often not believed, and can face fragmented systems and legal processes that compromise safety. Disbelief within the very systems meant to protect people is one of the deepest injustices survivors describe.

What an improved system could look like

Survivors, advocates and researchers point to changes such as more funding for holistic support services, options like victim advocates, judge-only trials and specialised courts, a trauma-informed system, and restorative approaches that expand the notion of justice. Restorative approaches focus on acknowledging the harm done and meeting survivors' needs, rather than only on prosecution and punishment. Even when the legal outcome is not as expected or sought, a more trauma-informed judicial system would allow victims and survivors to still feel seen, heard and respected throughout the process.

Your options as a survivor

There is no right way to seek justice, and no obligation to seek it at all. Some options survivors consider:

  • Reporting to police. Survivors can report childhood sexual abuse at any time, including decades after it happened. Reporting is a personal choice, and support services like the Blue Knot Helpline can help you think it through.

  • The National Redress Scheme. Survivors of institutional child sexual abuse may be eligible for redress, which can include a payment, access to counselling, and the option of a direct personal response from the institution. The Blue Knot Foundation runs a dedicated Redress Support Service (1300 657 380) to help survivors understand their options and get support with applications.

  • Civil claims. Following the Royal Commission, limitation periods for civil child abuse claims have been removed across Australia, which means survivors can seek compensation through the courts regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. Specialist legal advice is essential before going down this path.

Whatever you choose, including choosing none of these, is valid. Justice on your terms might simply mean telling your story to someone safe, or never telling it at all.

Justice as a community process

Justice is also social and relational. It encompasses recognition, dignity and the restoration of relationships, and it involves the community in acknowledging harm and supporting recovery. Through experiences of witnessing and recognition, survivors can be supported to recover, which is at the heart of the Left Write Hook approach. Recovery, like justice, is not something survivors should have to reach alone: we cannot simply think our way to recovery from trauma, we move through it, with our bodies and our communities. Educating the public about the challenges survivors face within the justice system helps shift attitudes toward more supportive, survivor-centred approaches.

Sources: Left Write Hook film site Resources (Creating a Justice System that Serves the Needs of Victims and Survivors); Voices to be Heard toolkit (The Meaning of Justice for Victim-Survivors, and A Path Towards Recovery and Justice); National Centre evidence to action newsletter (Salter 2026, MacSween and Petridis 2025); Blue Knot Foundation Redress Support Service; National Redress Scheme.