About Time for Justice helped change my life, says survivor of institutional abuse

When James Robinson was a teenager, he dreamed of one day joining an NRL

team.

However, the horrific acts of a detention centre guard derailed this plan.

In fact, the actions of the predator put in charge of vulnerable youth changed the

course of his life.

James was 12 when he was sent to a detention centre.

He admits he was “playing up” but was determined to turn his life around.

However, when he left the detention centre, he was left with demons that he

couldn’t escape.

James was one of many victims of a guard at the youth detention centre he was

sent to by the Australian justice system.

“I did some bad things and got sent away,” he said.

“But they (the guards) were supposed to be looking after me. I didn’t think there

would be people there who would do the wrong thing.”

James said he was targeted by a guard after a weekend visit with his family.

“It was a weekend thing for them,” he said.

“I would see my family for a visit and I would ask to go back to my room to have a

little sob, I guess.

“I got up to my cell - or my room as they call them - and that’s when I was shoved

into the bathroom of my cell and sexually abused.”

James said the traumatic experience left him feeling confused.

He said he didn’t feel like he could tell anyone about the abuse.

“I was forewarned that if I spoke out that no one would believe me and I would

end up back in there for lying,” James said.

After the abuse, James turned to a life of crime.

He lacked motivation and found himself hiding away during the day and going out

and getting into trouble at night.

“My life has been up and down ever since,” James said.

“I’ve been in and out of jail. You wouldn’t think that’s the place you want to go

back to after that happened as a juvenile, but I blame the abuse for it. I was

institutionalised.”

James said his crime was related to the anger he felt about the abuse.

He also turned to drugs and alcohol to dull the pain.

“Every drug you could poke a stick at, I’ve been on it,” James said.

However, three years ago, James met About Time for Justice co-founder Jacob

Little.

After hearing other survivors of institutional abuse share their stories, he decided

to do the same.

“The first time I shared my story, it was to Jacob,” James said.

James said he waited more than 20 years to shared his story

“It was bloody long enough,” he said.

These days he is looking forward to the future.

“For the last three years - ever since I met Jacob - I haven’t been on drugs.”

James said Jacob and the About Time for Justice team had guided him through

the process of accessing compensation for the horrors he experienced as a

young boy.

“You guys changed my life,” James said.

He encouraged other survivors to speak out.

“It felt good to get it out, off my chest,” James said.

“It’s in my past now.

“Anyone else - if they are bottling it up and not speaking, I’d urge you to speak to

someone like Jacob.”

James said he was looking forward to using his settlement money for a house

deposit.

It will be the first time he has owned a home and he said the feeling was

“incredible”.

“I never thought anyone would be able to change any part of my life - but I’m

looking forward now - and that’s all thanks to Jacob.”

“There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.”