Events

Symposium

After the Silence: Media and the Child Abuse Royal Commission

9am-5pm, 9th November 2022

Ann Harding Centre, University of Canberra and streamed online

Marking five years since the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (RCIRCSA) (2013-17), the After the Silence symposium brought together academics, victim-survivor advocacy organisations, media and policymakers to discuss the legacy of this mediatised inquiry for public discussion of child sexual abuse.

The Breaking Silences: Media and the Child Abuse Royal Commission project (DP1901010282) explored the role of media in instigating, reporting on and keeping alive the findings of the RCIRCSA. The project found that while media coverage of the royal commission was pivotal to changing the national conversation, and innovative advocacy media practices gave voice to previously untold stories, unevenness persists in media reporting practices that limit some stories being heard in public discussion.

In this one-day symposium hosted by the University of Canberra’s News & Media Research Centre, key stakeholders reflected on justice and voice for victim-survivors, the implications for journalists reporting on child sexual abuse, lessons for future inquiries, and policy challenges for Australian and international governments.

Program

9.00 – 9.30am	Coffee
9.30 – 10.00am	Opening Session   Welcome to Country (Aunty Roslyn Brown, Ngunnawal Elder)  Housekeeping: Introduce UC Counselling and quiet room arrangements
10.00 – 10.20am	Introduction: Kerry McCallum shares key findings from the project
10.20 – 10.30	Leg stretch / coffee
10.30am – 12.00pm	Panel 1: Making the Headlines   Chair: Megan Deas Participants: Philippa McDonald (ABC); Charlotte King (ABC); Thomas Oriti (ABC); Maureen Hatcher (LOUD Fence); Karen Monument (LOUD Fence) Discussion and questions
12.00 – 12.30pm	Lunch
12.30 – 1.00pm	National Survivor Day Ribbon Tying Ceremony
1.00 – 2.30pm	Panel 2: Beyond the Headlines  Chair/Introduction: Tanja Dreher Participants: Frank Golding (CLAN); Emma John (University of Canberra); Katie Wright (La Trobe University); Eli Skogerbø  (University of Oslo) Discussion and questions (farewell online audience)
2.30 – 2.45pm	Break
2.45 – 3.45pm	Final Session Chair: Kerry McCallum Reflection on the Breaking Silences project; Workshop for the Guidelines for Media reporting of Child Sexual Abuse project.
3.45 – 4.00pm	Wrap up
4.00 – 5.00pm	Refreshments

The symposium was held on the lands of the Ngunnawal people at the University of Canberra. We acknowledge the sensitivity and complexity of the topic of the symposium and have taken a trauma-informed approach to its organisation. Participants were given opportunities to withdraw at any time, and the venue offered a breakout ‘quiet room’ and outside garden space. While the symposium was predominantly a face-to-face event, the opening session and panels were live streamed and the event was recorded.

Please contact Dileka Pathiratna at the News & Media Research Centre if you would like to view the recording of the After the Silence symposium.

The Breaking Silences team were:

Kerry McCallum, University of Canberra; Lisa Waller, RMIT University; Tanja Dreher, UNSW; Kristy Hess, Deakin University; Eli Skogerbø, University of Oslo; Megan Deas, University of Canberra; Alanna Myers, University of Canberra; Emma John, University of Canberra; Poppy de Souza, UNSW; Samantha Joseph, UNSW; Mona Chatskin, University of Canberra.