The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has today announced the first public hearing for 2014.
The hearing will commence on 28 January.
The scope and purpose of the public hearing will be to inquire into:
The responses of The Salvation Army (Eastern Territory) to child sexual abuse within its children’s homes at:
Alkira Salvation Army Home for Boys, Indooroopilly, QLD
Riverview Training Farm (also known as Endeavour Training Farm), Riverview, QLD
Bexley Boys’ Home, Bexley, NSW
Gill Memorial Home, Goulburn, NSW
The hearing will also examine The Salvation Army’s processes in investigating, disciplining, removing and/or transferring anyone accused of, or found to have engaged in, child sexual abuse in these homes.
Royal Commission CEO Janette Dines is urging anyone who suffered sexual abuse as a child within these homes to contact the Royal Commission.
“We are in the process of gathering information relevant to this matter and would like to hear from as many people as possible.
“People’s experiences will help to inform the Royal Commission as to how The Salvation Army responded to allegations of child sexual abuse.
“We know it can be difficult for people to talk to us. I want to assure people that information shared with the Royal Commission is kept absolutely confidential. We do not share any information without permission,” she said.
Individuals and organisations, who believe that they have an interest in the Scope and Purpose of the public hearing, are invited to lodge an application for leave to appear.
