A brilliant essay given by Maria Tumarkin at the University of Melbourne on Wednesday 7 September 2016. A short version was published in The Conversation on Friday 9 September – reprinted here with permission. Among other things, Maria asked: “Have we outsourced the witnessing of child sexual abuse in Australia to the Royal Commission?” Some say yes. Others, […]
Mismanaging Expectations: The dominance of sexual abuse at the royal commission
This is the final draft of my paper for the Biennial European Social Science History Conference of the International Institute of Social History to be held in Valencia, Spain 30 March to 2 April 2016. Read more about the Conference here. Given that there are several papers being presented on related issues, I will revise […]
No light shines for the forgotten Australians. Why?
Another letter to The Age which didn’t make it. But let me share it with you. Simon Gardner (Royal commission can shine a light on ‘forgotten’ people – Age 5/8) writes: ‘Mention the stolen generations and child migrants and eyes light up in recognition…No such light shines for the forgotten Australians. Why?’ I can supply […]
Historic Child Abuse Not Consigned to History’s Garbage Bins
Child Sexual Abuse has not been consigned to the garbage bins of history. In an opinion piece in a Sydney paper today, Claire Harvey rightly takes umbrage at a statement made to the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse last week by the former Principal of the prestigious Knox Grammar School in Sydney where sexual abuse was […]
History of institutions providing out-of-home residential care for children
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 […]
10 Blunders in Child Welfare
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 […]
The Papal Trucking Company Pty Unlimited
I highly recommend this opinion piece by Tony Webber in the Dubbo PhotoNews, 30/8/14. In a devastating critique of the church’s scandalous handling of child sex abuse, Tony drives Cardinal Pell’s truck to its illogical conclusions. A trucking company “would not try to gets itself categorised as an unstructured, non-commercial entity to avoid paying due compensation to its victims.” […]
Church’s line is broken
“Is the line broken?” asked the Royal Commissioner, Peter McClellan, as the television hook-up to Rome failed. “The cardinal is unmoving on the screen which suggests it has,” replied counsel assisting Gail Furness SC, with Judge McClelland observing mournfully: “The line has failed in Rome.” It sure had, in more ways than one when Cardinal […]
Royal Commission on Child Sexual Abuse
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 […]