"A lot of people have said with us they will not go back into care, they cannot go back into care and they do not see that as an option for them," Prof Milroy told a conference in Perth this week.

Prof Milroy said most people the commission spoke to had post-traumatic stress disorder and are often haunted by intrusive memories.

She said these symptoms are extremely difficult to treat and when people become cognitively impaired or get dementia, these symptoms can become stronger.