Case Study 45: Hearing room updates
Case Study 45 - Monday 31 October 2016 - Day 7
Today the Royal Commission heard evidence from the Principal of St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, Dr Paul Hine, as it continues its case study into the institutional responses to children with problematic or harmful sexual behaviours in schools.
In this hearing, which is now in its second week, the Commission is investigating 10 different institutions, including seven schools (three NSW public primary schools and four independent secondary schools), two government agencies and the Association of Independent Schools NSW.
The Commission has heard that a boy, known to the Commission as CLC, was abused by another boy in April 2013 while on a Year 9 cadet camp at The King’s School, Parramatta. CLC then endured continuing bullying by other students until he moved to St Ignatius’ College, Riverview in Year 11.
The Commission has heard evidence from the King’s Headmaster, Dr Timothy Hawks; CLC’s housemaster at the time, Andrew Mansfield; King’s Deputy Headmaster, Dr Andrew Parry; Detective Sergeant Matthew Munro from the NSW Police Child Abuse Squad, and two former students.
The Commission also received a statement from CLC and heard evidence from CLC’s father, EAE.
CLC’s father gave evidence that he found CLC’s experience at Riverview to be ‘fantastic’. Riverview, is not being investigated for any abuse at the College.
Today the Commission heard evidence from the Principal of St Ignatius’ College Riverview, Dr Paul Hine, about CLC’s experiences at Riverview after CLC moved from Kings.
Dr Hine told the Commission about the way in which the College assisted CLC when he became a student and the structure of the College, including the way in which the boarding houses at the school are arranged in year groups rather than a mixture of boys from different years.
He told the Commission that in 2014, when CLC was considered for the College, mentoring, college counselling and other programs were put in place to help CLC enter the school.
He told the Commission strategies were put in place by the College to assist CLC to manage the possibility that he might continue to be bullied at St Ignatius’ once information about what had happened at Kings became known.
Dr Hine was taken to CLC's statement, in which CLC said a Riverview boy had at one stage taunted him, but that his friends had stood up and supported him, reporting to teachers, and that he had subsequently received an apology.
Dr Hine told the Commission about the culture of Riverview, which includes the development of a sense of accountability and responsibility in the students which is seeded in the school and then taken into the community after graduation.
Case Study 45 - Thursday 20 October 2016 - Day 1
Day 1 of the Royal Commission’s case study into the institutional responses to children with problematic or harmful sexual behaviours in schools started in Sydney today.
As part of this hearing the Commission will investigate the responses of ten different institutions including seven schools (three NSW public primary schools and four independent secondary schools), two government agencies and the Association of Independent Schools NSW.
Counsel Assisting the Commission, David Lloyd, in his opening statement, told the Commission that approximately 4,000 of the contacts to the Commission to date have related to abuse occurring in educational facilities, with around a quarter of those contacts relating to government based institutions.
Mr Lloyd told the Commission that an important part of the hearing would involve two panels in which senior, experienced child sexual abuse experts would provide insights into child-to-child sexual abuse.
In his opening statement Mr Lloyd said a boy, known to the Commission as CLC, had been abused by another boy in April 2013 while on a cadet camp at The King’s School, Parramatta. CLC then endured continuing bullying by other students until he left The Kings School and moved to St Ignatius’ College, Riverview in Year 11.
Riverview is not being investigated in relation to any abuse at the College. Mr Lloyd told the Commission he expected CLC’s father would give evidence that he found CLC’s experience at Riverview had been ‘fantastic’.
Trinity Grammar School Summer Hill and Shalom Christian College in Queensland will be examined during this case study. Part of this hearing will also consider problematic sexual behaviour that occurred at three government primary schools. This part of the hearing will occur in private as those involved are children.
The Commission will hear evidence from the Principal of St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, Dr Paul Hine, early next week.