The report of Case Study 20 follows a public hearing into The Hutchins School held last year.
The scope and purpose of the public hearing was to inquire into The Hutchins School’s response to allegations of child sexual abuse made against David Ralph Lawrence and Lyndon Alfred Hickman, as well as the role of the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania in respect of the Hutchins School’s response to allegations of child sexual abuse made against David Ralph Lawrence and Lyndon Alfred Hickman.
At the public hearing the Royal Commission explored in detail the experiences of two survivors of child sexual abuse and The Hutchins School’s response to their complaints of child sexual abuse made when they were students at the school.
The Royal Commission also heard evidence from former students who were abused by teachers at the school during the period 1963 to 1970, but who had not reported their abuse to the school before the announcement of this public hearing.
This case study highlighted the long-term impact of child sexual abuse and the associated difficulties of adequately responding to allegations of historical child sexual abuse in the absence of appropriate policies and procedures.
This case study also examined the role and influence of the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania on The Hutchins School’s response to allegations of child sexual abuse and the actual and perceived power of the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania in the governance of the school.
This case study provided the Royal Commission with insights into, amongst other things, systemic issues regarding institutional response to concerns and allegations of child sexual abuse.
