Jacinda Thompson is uniquely placed to write this book, having both suffered the consequences of a profound abuse of professional trust and held positions of responsibility for the care of others.

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In 2005, Jacinda was sexually abused while under the care of an Anglican priest who offered her spiritual counsel to cope with the traumatic death of her baby son. The priest was permanently removed from ordained ministry after a church tribunal found him guilty of engaging in sexual conduct without consent. Jacinda pursued legal action through the Human Rights Review Tribunal and received a landmark settlement from the Anglican Church.

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Her experience, and her hard-fought battle for justice, ignited a deep commitment to supporting others whose trust has been betrayed by those in positions of authority. She is an active member of the Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand, where she advocates for access to justice, healing options, and stronger abuse prevention measures. In 2024, guided by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, Jacinda presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council during New Zealand’s Periodic Review, raising concerns on behalf of the Survivor Network about the country’s failings in redress for abuse in care.

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Jacinda has spoken at the General Synod of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia, successfully advocating for the creation of a Ministry Standards Commission to ensure bishops no longer oversee complaints against their own clergy. She was also selected to present at public hearings of New Zealand’s Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, later serving as an advisor to the Crown Response Unit on the design of an independent redress system for survivors. In addition, she serves on the Ministry Standards Advisory Group for the Nelson Diocese of the Anglican Church, has advised the Ministry of Education on redress processes for abuse survivors in state schools, and provides advisory support to Tika, a new initiative helping survivors of sexual violence seek justice.

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Alongside her advocacy, Jacinda has worked extensively in the field of education. She has been a secondary school teacher in both Australia and New Zealand, chaired a school Board of Trustees for many years, run her own education business, and held governance and coaching roles in sports organisations. In faith-based settings, she has experience in child and youth ministry and safeguarding education. She was awarded the University of Canterbury Psychology Prize for her academic performance and is interested in the psychology of abuse dynamics.

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Jacinda believes knowledge is empowering. Through her work, she seeks to help survivors better understand their abuse experience and their options for redress. She asserts that it is time to ensure that the lifelong harm suffered by survivors of abuse at the hands of trusted professionals is no longer accepted as collateral damage in our care systems. She challenges the status quo and calls for organisations to back up declarations of ‘zero tolerance for abuse’ with the investment of resources into prevention and accountability.

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When not engaged in this cause, Jacinda enjoys family life in rural Marlborough, New Zealand, with her husband, Aaron and their children. Her two daughters and three sons inspire her commitment to building a safer future, while the love of her whānau and friends provides the much-appreciated strength and support to do this work.

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