The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Sydney from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 March 2017.

The public hearing inquired into the current policies and procedures of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments in relation to child protection and child-safe standards, including responding to allegations of child sexual abuse.

The scope and purpose of the public hearing was to inquire into:

1. The current policies and procedures of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments in relation to child protection and child-safe standards, including responding to allegations of child sexual abuse.

2. Factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of child sexual abuse at Commonwealth, State and Territory institutions.

3. Factors that may have affected the institutional response of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to child sexual abuse.

4. The responses of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to relevant case study report(s) and other Royal Commission reports.

5. Any related matters.

The purpose of this public hearing is not to inquire into individual sets of facts or particular events as has occurred in previous Royal Commission case studies.