Author, Researcher, Historian
Professor Shurlee Swain’s third paper for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is a fascinating survey of previous royal commissions and other official inquiries in Australia. “The History of Australian inquiries reviewing institutions providing care for children” (2014) identifies 83 Australian inquiries. Download the paper here. The first, a NSW Select Committee on Destitute […]
This is the 2nd of Prof Shurlee Swain’s three research papers for the Royal Commission It can be downloaded here This will prove to be the most fascinating of the Swain papers for those who are new to this area. It explains the many different types of institutions offering out-of-home ‘care’ for children in Australia from […]
The History of Child Protection Legislation in Australia Shurlee Swain’s first paper for the Royal Commission (I’m not sure the three papers are meant to be read in any set order) surveys the legislation relating to the out-of-home care of children. The paper can be downloaded here. Reminding us that child welfare in Australia was […]
UPDATE The ten worst blunders in child welfare in Australia since 1788. COUNT DOWN TO NUMBER 1 It has been hard deciding which of all the many mistakes of the past – and those which continue to be made – warrants the title “the worst”. But here it is. BLUNDER # 1: Having inflicted significant damage on children […]
Key points from my submission to the Royal Commission on Child Sexual Abuse: A national redress scheme to which all governments, major churches and relevant non-government organisations contribute equitably is among the most important outcomes that this Royal Commission could give rise to. Written evidence should not be expected in every case; many cases were […]
In a report of an interview, the Pope acknowledged that paedophilia was common and widespread in the Catholic Church – even at the level of bishop and cardinal – and called the requirement for celibacy among priests ‘a problem’ for which he is ‘finding the solution’. The Vatican denied that he said this. Cardinal George Pell made reference to celibacy […]