About the Royal Commission

On Friday 11 January 2013, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, appointed a six-member Royal Commission to investigate Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The Royal Commission will inquire into how institutions with a responsibility for children have managed and responded to allegations and instances of child sexual abuse.

The Commissioners will investigate where systems have failed to protect children, and make recommendations on how to improve laws, policies and practices to prevent and better respond to child sexual abuse in institutions.

The Commissioners can look at any private, public or non-government organisation that is, or was in the past, involved with children, including government agencies, schools, sporting clubs, orphanages, foster care, and religious organisations.

The Hon. Justice Peter McClellan AM has been appointed Chair of the Commission. Justice McClellan has since 2005 held a senior judicial position in the New South Wales judiciary as the Chief Judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

The Commissioners have been appointed for three years. The Commission will release an interim report by no later than 30 June 2014.

For more information about the Commission including submissions, transcripts of hearings and hearing dates and locations click here.