empowering survivors

David Hartmann of Open Place in Richmond, VIC is a finalist in the 2019 HESTA Community Sector Awards. 

David Hartmann from Open Place, a support and advocacy service for people who grew up in Victorian orphanages, is recognised for his work empowering and supporting survivors of institutional sexual abuse.

As Manager of the Counselling and National Redress Scheme Support Services at Open Place, David is often the first person to show victims that people and the community care about survivors and the impact their traumatic childhood has had on them. With many survivors of institutional sexual abuse in the criminal justice system; David has established outreach services for those in prison and visits these clients weekly.

Recognising the impact that trauma has on a child’s ability to learn and progress in the education system, David hopes to support Open Place’s objectives further by creating education pathways for survivors of institutional sexual abuse.