Child Protection and Related Matters in Australia
A comprehensive list of inquiries and reports in Australia between 1995 and 2017
(Sources:
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019). Child Protection Australia 2017–18. Canberra, Cat. no. CWS 65 Appendixes E: 36-37.
- Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2017b). Final Report, Vol. 12. Sydney, pp. 33-34.
- Swain, Shurlee (2014). History of Australian inquiries reviewing institutions providing care for children, Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.)
Jurisdiction |
Short Title |
Year |
| Commonwealth – HREOC | National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families – Bringing Them Home | 1995–1997 |
| Western Australia | Select Committee into Child Migration
|
1996 |
| Queensland | Commission of Inquiry into the Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions (Forde Inquiry) | 1999 |
| Tasmania Committee of Parliament | Adoption and Related Services 1958-1988 | 1999 |
| NSW Committee of Parliament | Releasing the Past: Adoption Practices 1950-1998 | 2000 |
| Commonwealth – Senate | Lost Innocents: Righting the Record – Report on Child Migration | 2001 |
| Tasmania | Interim Report on the Abuse of Children in State Care (See also Listen to the Children 2006) | 2004 |
| Australian Capital Territory | The Territory as a parent: a review of the safety of children in care in the ACT and of ACT Child Protection management (Commissioner for Public Administration) | 2004 |
| Australian Capital Territory | The Territory’s children: ensuring safety and quality care for children and young people. Report on the audit and case review (Commissioner for Public Administration) | 2004 |
| Queensland | Protecting children: an inquiry into the abuse of children in foster care (Crime and Misconduct Commission) | 2004 |
| Commonwealth – Senate | Forgotten Australians: A report on Australian Who Experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children | 2004 |
| Commonwealth – Senate | Protecting Vulnerable Children: A national challenge (Vol. 2 of the above Inquiry) | 2005 |
| Western Australia | Independent Review of Allegations of Abuse of Children in State Care | 2005 |
| Tasmania | Listen to the Children Report (Ombudsman) | 2003-2006 |
| Tasmania | Report on child protection services in Tasmania (Jacob & Fanning) | 2006 |
| Victoria | Our Children are Our Future: Improving outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care (Auditor-General’s Office) | 2005 |
| Victoria | Improving Responses to Allegations Involving Sexual Assault (Ombudsman) | 2006 |
| NSW | Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW (Wood Inquiry) | 2008 |
| South Australia | Children in state care: commission of inquiry (Mullighan) | 2008 |
| South Australia | Children on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands: commission of inquiry (Mullighan) | 2008 |
| Commonwealth – Senate | Lost Innocents and Forgotten Australians Revisited | 2009 |
| Victoria | Own Motion Investigation into the Department of Human Services Child Protection Program (Ombudsman) | 2009 |
| Victoria | Own Motion Investigation into Child Protection – Out-of-home care (Ombudsman) | 2010 |
| Northern Territory | Growing them strong, together: promoting the safety and wellbeing of the Northern Territory’s children. Report of the Board of Inquiry into the child protection system in the Northern Territory (Northern Territory Government). | 2010 |
| Commonwealth – Senate | Review of Government Compensation Payments | 2010 |
| Tasmania | Inquiry into the circumstances of a 12 year old child under guardianship of the Secretary: final report (Commissioner for Children Tasmania) | 2010 |
| Tasmania | Select Committee on Child Protection: Final report (Parliament of Tasmania) | 2011 |
| Tasmania | Report of the Auditor General, no. 2 of 2011–2012, Children in out-of-home care (Tasmanian Audit Office) | 2011 |
| NSW | Keep them safe? A special report to Parliament under s31 of the Ombudsman Act 1974 (Ombudsman) | 2011 |
| NSW | Responding to Child Sexual Assault in Aboriginal Communities Report (Ombudsman) | 2012 |
| Victoria | Desperate Measures: The relinquishment of children with disability into state care in Victoria | 2012 |
| Victoria | Report of the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry (Cummins Inquiry) | 2012 |
| Australian Capital Territory | Who is Looking out for the Territory’s Children? Review of the emergency response strategy for children in crisis in the ACT | 2012 |
| Western Australia | Special Inquiry into Allegations of Abuse in Hostels | 2012 |
| Victoria -Parliament | Betrayal of Trust: Inquiry into the handling of child abuse in religious and other non-government organisations | 2012-2013 |
| Commonwealth – Senate | Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices | 2012 |
| NSW | The Special Commission of Inquiry into matters relating to the police investigation of certain child sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle (Cuneen) | 2012-2014 |
| Western Australia | Review of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2006 (Public Sector Commission) | 2013 |
| Queensland | Taking responsibility: a roadmap for Queensland child protection (Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry: Carmody Inquiry) | 2013 |
| Victoria | Residential Care Services for Children (Auditor-General’s Office) | 2013-2014 |
| NSW | Review of the NSW child protection system—are things improving? Special report to Parliament. (NSW Ombudsman) | 2014 |
| South Australia | Inquest into the death of Chloe Lee Valentine (South Australia State Coroner) | 2015 |
| South Australia | Interim Report of the Select Committee on Statutory Child Protection and Care in South Australia | 2015 |
| Victoria | …As a good parent would… Inquiry into the adequacy of the provision of residential care services to Victorian children and young people who have been subject to sexual abuse or sexual exploitation whilst residing in residential care (Victorian Commission for Children and Young People) | 2015 |
| Victoria | In the child’s best interests: inquiry into compliance with the intent of the Aboriginal Child Placement Principal in Victoria (Victorian Commission for Children and Young People) | 2015 |
| Commonwealth – Senate | Inquiry into Out-of-home care | 2015 |
| NSW | Inquiry into Child Protection established by the Parliament of NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee no. 2 | 2016 |
| NSW | Independent Review of Out of Home Care in NSW, report to NSW Cabinet (David Tune AO PSM) | 2016 |
| Victoria | Always was, always will be, Koori children. Systemic inquiry into services provided to Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home care in Victoria (Victorian Commissioner for Children and Young People) | 2016 |
| Queensland | When a child is missing: remembering Tiahleigh – A report into Queensland’s children missing from out-of-home care (Family and Child Commission) | 2016 |
| South Australia | The life they deserve: Child Protection Systems Royal Commission report (Child Protection Systems Royal Commission) | 2016 |
| South Australia | The life they deserve: Child Protection Systems Royal Commission report (Child Protection Systems Royal Commission) | 2016 |
| Tasmania | Redesign of child protection services Tasmania: strong families—safe kids (Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services) | 2016 |
| Tasmania | Strong families—safe kids: implementation plan 2016–2020 (Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services) | 2016 |
| South Australia | Final report of the select committee on statutory child protection and care in South Australia (Parliament of South Australia) | 2017 |
| NSW | Child Protection, Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2 | 2017 |
| Victoria | Safe and Wanted: an inquiry into the implementation of permanency arrangements (Victorian Commissioner for Children and Young People) | 2017 |
| Commonwealth | Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse final report. | 2013-2017 |
| Commonwealth – Senate | Senate Committee’s report, Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices, | 2012 |
| Northern Territory | Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, Interim Report | 2017 |
| Commonwealth – House of Representatives | House of Representatives Committee, Breaking barriers: a national adoption framework for Australian children Inquiry into local adoption | 2018 |
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ROYAL COMMISSION into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse 2013-2017
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse investigated how institutions like schools, churches, sports clubs and government organisations have responded to allegations and instances of child sexual abuse.
The Commission’s Final Report comprises 17 volumes and some supplementary reports.
Each volume takes up a different topic, e.g
- Volume 8 is on Recordkeeping and information sharing
- Volume 11 is on Historical residential institutions
- Volume 12 is on contemporary out-of-home care
You can look at all the volumes and other material on line at:
https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/final-report
My written submission to the Royal Commission on the Institutional Handling of Child Sexual Abuse is available on the Royal Commission’s website here.
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 not reported at the time, and records have been “lost” or destroyed.
- You do not have to have been raped or sexually assaulted to have been profoundly affected by sexual activity in children’s institutions.
- There is a strong connection between sexual abuse and violence which is often underestimated. While the phenomenon of grooming is increasingly well understood, its counterpart of violence and naked abuse of power is not.
- The same fear, humiliation and intimidation that enabled abuse to take place also served as a mechanism by which information about abuse was suppressed.
- The sexualised environment of children’s Homes contributed to the high incidence of abuse.
- It would be a profound disappointment to many who were abused in institutions if a “sexual abuse” only redress scheme were introduced given that existing redress schemes in Australia and overseas have already paid compensation – as they should – for other serious forms of abuse and neglect.
To read the full submission click here
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Australian Royal Commission on the Handling of Child Sexual Abuse
This is an old post which needs updating in the light of the protracted legal processes involving Cardinal George Pell and the subsequent release of previously redacted reports that were held back from full publication because of the legal processes.
The two latest reports of case studies concern the Catholic church’s Towards Healing (so-called) protocol:
- The experiences of four survivors with the Towards Healing process’ and
- Mr John Ellis’s experience of the Towards Healing process and civil litigation’.
These two case studies are highly critical of Towards Healing – and in the Ellis case, of Cardinal Pell.
The reports highlight a number of issues about redress, including “the role an institution should play in assessing complaints of conduct by those associated with the institution, transparency and review processes, reparation and the role of pastoral care”.
Cardinal Pell’s position at the end of the hearings is summed up:
- He agreed that the Church has a moral responsibility for child sexual abuse that occurs within the Church.
- He would like to see an independent body set up to investigate complaints of child sexual abuse, which would recommend compensation but not damages.
- The proper moral response would be to revisit the amounts paid under Towards Healing.
- The Church should be able to be sued in cases of child sexual abuse. The Church should set up a body would appoint and supervise people ‘so that the successors, if God forbid there were any after Mr Ellis, would have somebody to sue’.
What a chastening experience for the Cardinal – and indeed the whole church. You have to wonder whether it can ever restore its reputation.
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UPDATE (20 December 2014)
Australian Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse
In an end-of-the-year report for 2014, the Royal Commission states that it
- conducted 17 public hearings,
- held over 1,700 private sessions, and
- “further progressed our work in research and policy” [a number of important research reports were released]
- received 9,883 calls to the call centre,
- received more than 5,000 emails and letters, and
- served 796 notices to produce documents.
The Royal Commission call centre remains open during the holiday season, with the exception of public holidays, and can be contacted on 1800 099 340 Monday – Friday between 8am – 8pm AEDT.
More here
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ANOTHER UPDATE (20 December 2014)
Still British Home Secretary procrastinates – while the Guardian recommends the Australian Royal Commission as a model
Mrs May is “considering giving the inquiry extra powers, extending its terms of reference and rolling back the period it examines from the 1970s to the 50s”. But nothing is decided and she still can’t find a reputable Chair. Read more here
Child Abuse in the UK
Another Delaying Tactic? How long do survivors have to wait?
“investigating the cost of” – a weasel phrase? Read more
NEW (AGAIN!)
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Child Abuse Cover-up Inquiry UK
ANOTHER UPDATE (5 November 2014)
Can’t find someone who isn’t tainted?
The British Home Secretary, Mrs Theresa May, told the House of Commons: “Almost four months after my intention to establish a panel it is obviously very disappointing that we do not yet have a panel chairman and for that I want to tell survivors that I am sorry.
“It will not be straightforward to find a chairman that has the expertise to do this hugely important work and has had no contact at all with an institution or individual about whom people have concerns.”
UPDATE (2 November 2014)
Another Head Rolls. What is that stench that’s polluting the air? The smell of rotting MPs?
What is it with this government? Now the replacement head of the inquiry will have to be replaced. Read More
Interestingly the pressure came for victims/survivors. Good for them!
UPDATE (22 October 2014)
The controversy will not die down: Read more
UPDATE (8 September) Child Abuse Cover-up in the UK
Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf replaces Baroness Butler-Sloss as inquiry head. Read more here.
- On 8 July 2014, Theresa May, the British Home Secretary announced a wide-ranging inquiry into whether public bodies “did enough to investigate child abuse claims in the past” (code for an establishment cover up). She appointed Baroness Butler=-Sloss to lead the inquiry which would “consider whether public bodies – and other non-state institutions – have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse”.
- 15 July Baroness Butler-Sloss quit after it was revealed that her brother, Michael Havers, was Attorney-General in the Cabinet 1979-87 and that he allegedly tried to stop paedophile allegations being aired in Parliament. The Tory Home Secretary Theresa May claimed she did not know about these allegations. Ex-Judge Baroness Butler-Sloss says she did not ‘sufficiently consider’ her family background when accepting the position. Read more here
- Let’s hope the government can get it right this time. UPDATE: they didn’t.
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In a report of an interview, the Pope acknowledged that paedophilia was common and widespread in the Catholic Church, and reportedly called the requirement for celibacy among priests ‘a problem’ for which he is ‘finding the solution’ – although the Vatican also denied that he said this. Read more.
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Report ‘”…as a good parent would…”
The Commission for Children and Young People in Victoria had just released this report subtitled Inquiry into the the adequacy of the provision of residential care services to Victorian children and young people who have been subject to sexual abuse or sexual exploitation whilst residing in residential care.
The title comes from section 173 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 which requires that DHS (the Department of Human Sevices–known in the trade as the Department of Human Sacrifices)
must make provision for the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of the child in the same was as a good parent would.
This is a variation of a clause that is found in the Victorian Social Welfare Act of 1960 (s 24). Do child welfare promises ever really change?
Promises are one thing. Treating kids well is altogether another thing. It is abundantly clear from the tragic evidence that the State of Victoria remains a very bad corporate parent. Not only are children sexually abused and exploited on a routine basis, DHS ought to have known.
More than that: the residential system houses children and adolescents in appalling conditions, where they lose contact with family and community, drop out of school, develop mental health problems, engage in substance abuse, are bullied and intimidated.
These are hardly the outcomes of a good parent. It is little wonder that when they ‘age out’ of the residential system, a high proportion of these young people join the ranks of the homeless, the unemployment queues–and worse. A good parent would hang their head in shame.
The system is totally broken and no amount of further tinkering will fix it. But don’t hold your breath…I fully expect this report will join scores of other reports on Ministerial bookshelves to be rediscovered in the decades to come when there is another moral panic with the re-discovery of child sexual abuse of children in the so-called ‘care’ of the State.
You can read the report here.
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Betrayal of Trust is the report of the Victorian Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse and Other Non-Government Organisations published in November 2013 (2 volumes). The Victorian Government’s response to the recommendations of the Report can be found here
My 2012 submission can be downloaded (along with many others) here.
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The British Inquiry
The debate in the House of Commons (4 February 2015) can be read here.
GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER? (5 February 2015)
Finally, the British Home Secretary (Mrs May – or as some would have it, Mrs MayNot) has found someone to chair the inquiry into the cover-up of child sexual abuse.
New Zealand High Court Judge Lowell Goddard comments: “I come, I suppose, as a fresh face.” And from a long way away from London where, it is implied, no one could be found who could be regarded as sufficiently removed from the network of corruption in high places.
The Home Secretary was quoted as saying that Justice Goddard was “as removed as possible from the organisations and institutions that might become the focus of the inquiry.” Not only that, she has experience of heading up an inquiry into child sexual abuse in New Zealand.
But wait there’s more: the Home Secretary sacked the panel she appointed to assist the Inquiry and a new panel will be created.
And even more: the BBC has published a list of around a dozen ongoing investigations and inquiries into historical abuse allegations in institutions around the UK.
See the list here.
Stand by!
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YET ANOTHER UPDATE (22 January 2015)
IS THERE NO END TO THIS FIASCO?
Let’s sum up:
- In July 2014, Theresa May, the British Home Secretary announces an inquiry into whether there had been a cover-up of allegations of child sexual abuse.
- She appoints a Chair who resigns because of perceived conflict of interest.
- She appoints a second person as Chair but that person resigns as well for the same reason.
- An Inquiry Panel is appointed to do preliminary work for the inquiry, but the Home Secretary reveals in December that she might stand down the panel in favour of another approach.
- The panel members this week announce they are stopping all work until the Home Secretary makes up her mind about their future and the possible appointment of a third Chair.
- Meanwhile, a member of the Panel accuses the Inquiry lawyer of bullying and intimidation. He, in turn, accuses her of leaking confidential information.
- The other members of the stop all work Panel back the Inquiry’s lawyer. Read all about it (well some of it) here.
Ealing Studios could not have produced a better farce. Meanwhile, does anyone in the British Government care about the victims and survivors of the sexual abuse?
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CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION RIFE IN THE UK
In the dying days of 2014 as part of Family Law Week, Heather Popley, a barrister at No 5 Chambers, published a damning commentary on the high incidence of Child Sexual Exploitation within the UK.
Ms Popley referenced six very recent reports:
- The sexual exploitation of children: it couldn’t happen here, could it? – Ofsted November 2014
- The report of Ann Coffey MP: Real Voices – Child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester – October 2014
- The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham 1997 – 2013 (also referred to as the Jay Report) – Professor Alexis Jay OBE 21st August 2014
- The Report of the Parliamentary inquiry into the effectiveness of legislation for tackling child sexual exploitation and trafficking within the UK – Barnardo’s April 2014
- “If only someone had listened”: Office of the Children’s Commissioner’s Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups Final Report – November 2013
- House of Commons Home Affairs Committee: Child Sexual Exploitation and the Response to localised grooming: Second report of Session 2013-2014 published 10th June 2013.
These reports, among other things, demonstrate an increasing awareness, both professional and public, of the damage that sexual exploitation inflicts upon children and vulnerable young adults.
Ms Popley points to a fact known for decades: the impact of sexual exploitation is not restricted to childhood and adolescence; “there can be lasting consequences throughout the victims’ lives”.
The question in my mind is: why has it taken so long for this level of awareness to emerge? Is it because:
- The whistle has finally been blown on the the cover-ups that have characterised these crimes? Or
- The irresistible appeal to the media of accusations against high profile figures? Or
- The snowball effect of disclosures (in the UK and in many other western countries) means that survivors can feel more confident that they will be believed and the voices of victims and their advocates are now being heard? Or
- Some combination of explanations?
The Popley commentary can be found here.
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Scottish Inquiry Finally Announced
After a long period of procrastination, indecision or thoughtful uncertainty – take your pick – the Scottish Government has finally decided to hold a national inquiry into “historic child sexual abuse”.
The full terms of reference and appointments for the inquiry will be confirmed by the end of April, following consultation with survivors of abuse. Arrangements for meetings with survivors will begin in January.
More here
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The Republic of Ireland will now examine the past treatment of unmarried mothers by investigating the Homes for children born outside marriage and their mothers. Australians will recognise the issues the commission of inquiry may look at:
* The high mortality rates in mother-and-baby Homes:
* The circumstances and location of the burial of babies who died in the Homes
* The use of infants in clinical drugs trials at some Homes
* The number and manner of adoptions from the Homes
Read more here: