The Royal Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai, a community organisation that advocates for children and young people who have experience in the care system.
The MoU includes a set of key principles – such as good faith, autonomy, cooperation, communication and timeliness – that will guide how the organisations will work together going forward.
VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai works to ensure the voices of care-experienced children are heard, to positively influence their individual care and collectively affect change in the wider care system.
A working group with members from the Royal Commission and VOYCE is now planning the work programme for phases agreed in the MoU.
Inquiry Chair Coral Shaw said that although the Royal Commission’s core focus is historical abuse between 1950 and 1999, it also has discretion to hear about any abuse or neglect before or after these dates.