They are a 'Message to Australia' — the words of those who gave their stories as part of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

If you or someone you know needs help, call: Lifeline on 13 11 14

Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

More than 1,000 contributions were received and published in a book that was handed over to the National Library of Australia on the final sitting of the commission today.

We've selected just a fraction of them below.

And just a warning, some of the messages may be confronting.

Many were thankful for the royal commission's work...

...but it was clear others still carried their pain...

"It is my hope that before I die, in the near future that every government department and its staff who allowed or were complacent in the abuses of us children end up in prison and lose their families, their lives, just like we have. That all authorities, government people of Australia, will accept and agree that we are not animals. We deserve respect and a life. And compensation shouldn't have conditions that are written to prevent us from being compensated. We have no life..."

"Glad I spoke to royal commission, but it has opened a Pandora's Box in my head. I feel dangerously angry. It scares me a lot, but I'm OK. You just ask me. Substance abuse is helping. What a lie to live with. Please don't let this happen to others."

"A lifetime of shame for being a kid. A lifetime of detention for protection. A lifetime of a kid that no-one wanted. Didn't mean I was open season for monsters. 4.4 years of not being believed, like it never happened. But it did!"

And others looked to the future

"To all survivors who made it to the royal commission to share your 'story', I stand beside you. There is always hope, help and healing. We will make a difference."

"For us that once had no voice, now we can be heard. And for us whose lives were destroyed, now can begin to heal."

"It's my choice to be a victim or a survivor. It's my choice to forgive or hate. It's my choice to look forward or back. So I have chosen to love the life I have. I have chosen to forgive those who hurt me, because I don't know who hurt them. My 'Message to Australia': I ask you to do the same. The action of hate fixes nothing."

"Let our voice echo. Love"

You can read every message by visiting the royal commission website.

All images were supplied by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.