12th Victim Support National Conference Opens in Rotorua Friday 31st October

29 October 2003

Victim Support Groups right across the country are converging on Rotorua this weekend for the 12th National Victim Support Conference.

Organisers are expecting over 260 delegates to attend the three-day event, which will be opened by the Minister of Justice the Hon Phil Goff.

Victim Support Chief Executive Steve Caldwell said this Conference is an extremely important event for Victim Support as it puts into place a new organisational structure aimed at enhancing the consistency and responsiveness of Victim Support services throughout the Country.

Among the key-note speakers at the conference are;

Ms Donna Hall who will be speaking on a Maori Perspective to victimisation.
Dr David Bonython-Wright a psychologist from Adelaide, South Australia, who will to lead a plenary session on ‘Twin Towers and Bali – the aftermath – the personal and political impact’. Dr Bonython-Wright has worked in grief, loss and trauma arenas for many years including the Ash Wednesday bush fires in South Australia. In recent years he has been working with families directly affected by the 9/11 attacks in New York and the Bali bombings. He was also involved in advising the South Australian government on appropriate remedial action in response to the ‘missing body parts’ scandal.
Dr Warren Young, the Deputy Secretary (Criminal Justice) for the Ministry of Justice will also be speaking on the 2001 Victims of Crime Survey.

One of the key features of the Conference this year will be a one-hour tribute to New Zealand’s Victims Rights Campaigners over the past 20 years. “So often, the work these people do is overlooked, it is time we recognized and celebrated their achievements”, said Mr Caldwell. Among the guests for the Tribute are Mr Kevin Joblin credited as being the force behind the setting up of New Zealand’s first Victim Support Group in Gisborne in 1986 and Mr Norm Withers whose achievements with the 1999 Justice Referendum paved the way for the recent changes in the Victims Rights Legislation.

The other highlight of the Conference will be the welcoming of Sir Howard Morrison as Victim Support’s new Patron.