Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

A Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was established on 11th January 2013. This followed former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s announcement in November 2012 of her intention to establish a Royal Commission and discussions about its establishment with a range of government, community and religious leaders. The Commonwealth Attorney-General at the time released a consultation paper to canvas views about the terms of reference, the form of the Royal Commission, the number and type of Royal Commissioners, and the reporting timetable. In November 2012, PeakCare made a response to the consultation paper.

Six Royal Commissioners were appointed in Hon Justice Peter McClellan AM (Chair of the Commission), Mr Bob Atkinson AO APM, Justice Jennifer Coate, Mr Robert Fitzgerald AM, Professor Helen Milroy, and Mr Andrew Murray. They investigated how institutions with a responsibility for children managed and responded to instances of child sexual abuse and where systems failed to protect children, and made recommendations on how to improve laws, policies and practices to prevent and better respond to child sexual abuse in institutions. An interim report was released in mid 2014 and the final report was released in December 2017, concluding the five-year term of the Royal Commission. Read PeakCare’s preliminary response to the final report.