Harrison

Harrison was identified as ‘educationally subnormal’ and when he was 12 years old, was forced to attend a residential school far from home.

One of the few people who offered him any solace in the brutally harsh regime was a female staff member, but she betrayed his trust and sexually abused him.

Harrison describes his childhood as fragmented and remembers being passed between his parents and grandparents before being placed into care. He believes he was labelled a ‘naughty child’ and was excluded from three different schools.

He remembers how terrified he was to be ‘dragged off screaming, literally dumped and forgotten about’ in a residential school. Many of the staff were ex-armed forces, and the school was run along military lines with strict discipline and brutal punishments. 

There was virtually no contact with anyone outside the school, apart from with acquaintances of the principal or members of his fraternal organisation. 

Harrison relates that at first, he used to stand up for himself and others, but over time the urge to fight back left him. The school operated a grading system which allowed some boys to gain privileges. However the staff appeared to enjoy goading boys and when they responded, would hand out physical punishments and a grade demotion. Harrison remarks that they seemed to enjoy this and that the behaviour of the staff was not seen as abuse, just part of the everyday regime.

Injuries were treated in the sick bay and never referred to hospital. If any of the boys ran away from the school, the local police officer, who knew the principal, would always return them. 

In the five years that Harrison attended the school, he spent all his time there. He did not go home for the holidays but was taken on activity camps with the school staff. During these times, he says, the physical abuse was even worse.

Most of the staff at the school were male, but one female staff member was supportive towards him. He now realises she was grooming him, and she went on to sexually abuse him.  

Harrison told the school psychologist about some of the abuse he was experiencing but no action was taken. His social worker from his home town visited him at first, but stopped because the school had its own social worker, although it was difficult to get a meeting with this person. He was never asked for his views or to attend any meetings about his progress. 

The social worker appeared to be a close acquaintance of the principal and Harrison felt that anything he did tell the social worker would be reported back. He says ‘it felt like the principal controlled everything’.

The physical, emotional and sexual abuse that Harrison suffered has had a significant impact on his life. He has experienced mental health difficulties and has ongoing physical difficulties.

He would like there to be more specialist support for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. He emphasises how important it is to listen to children regarding abuse.