If you're on this page, you might be trying to work out what happened to you, whether it counts, or what to do next. That's okay. You don't need to know the right words for it, and you don't need a plan before you start- we are here to help you understand your options.
What is Abuse & Neglect?
Abuse is when someone hurts you, or treats you in a way that isn’t okay. Neglect is when the people who are meant to look after you don’t. It can happen anywhere - including in foster care, residences, group homes, or at school - and can sometimes be caused by people who were meant to keep you safe.
Someone hurting your body on purpose, like being hit or physically punished.
Being put down, scared, controlled, humiliated, isolated, threatened, or made to feel worthless.
Any sexual contact or behavior you didn't want or weren't old enough to agree to.
Not being given the basics - food, safety, warmth, love, healthcare, supervision or someone to turn to.
Cultural neglect is being disconnected from your whānau, language, culture or identity while in care.
It's not your fault
However it happened, and however long ago - if anybody is making you feel unsafe or unhappy, it is not your fault. Often, young people say they feel confused about what has happened and that is totally normal. Sometimes abuse and/or neglect happens and you’re told “it’s ok” or that you would “get in trouble for telling”. But it’s definitely not something you have to carry alone.
It’s important to tell someone if you are:
- Being hurt by someone
- Being touched in a way you don’t like
- Not being looked after by people at home
- Seeing people and animals you love being hurt
- Feeling frightened or sad
- Feeling uneasy about something that happened
Complaint or claim - what's the difference?
These two words get used a lot, and it can be confusing.
A complaint is about something you're not happy with - for example, how you're being treated, a decision that's been made about you, or how a service is being delivered.
A claim is about seeking redress (acknowledgement, support, or compensation) for abuse or neglect that happened to you while in care - even if it happened a long time ago.
You might need one, both, or neither. If you choose to make a claim, when the abuse took place determines which process you should use. Not sure which one applies to you? That's exactly what VOYCE is here to help you work through - you don't need to figure this out by yourself.
You have options
You don’t have to decide anything today. When you’re ready, here are some options.
If you're not ready to talk about what happened, or you're not sure you want to make a claim at all; you can still access support like counselling, therapy, or funding for support services - without starting a claims process.
Talk to someone
If you want to talk through your options, or you're not sure where to start, reach out to VOYCE. You can also connect directly with the Survivor Experiences Service, which offers a space to share your experience, get support with accessing your records, and access wellbeing support - it is not a claims process, but it can be a good place to start.