Public hearing into the response to children with problematic or harmful sexual behaviours in schools

AUSTRALIA
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

7 October, 2016

The Royal Commission will hold a public hearing to inquire into the response to children with problematic or harmful sexual behaviours in schools.

The public hearing will commence on 20 October 2016 at the Royal Commission’s hearing rooms in Sydney.

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

1. The response of three public primary schools in New South Wales to allegations of problematic or harmful sexual behaviours by students at those schools.

2. The response of The King’s School, Parramatta in New South Wales to allegations of problematic or harmful sexual behaviours by students at that school.

3. The response of Trinity Grammar School, Summer Hill in New South Wales to allegations of problematic or harmful sexual behaviours by students at that school.

4. The response of Shalom Christian College in Queensland to allegations of problematic or harmful sexual behaviours by students at that school.

5. The response of St Ignatius’ College Riverview to a student who is alleged to have been sexually abused at another school.

6. The systems, policies, procedures and practices for responding to allegations of problematic or harmful sexual behaviours of children within educational institutions promoted and implemented by:

a. Department of Education NSW

b. Association of Independent Schools NSW

c. Department of Family and Community Services NSW

d. The King’s School, Parramatta

e. Trinity Grammar School, Summer Hill

f. Shalom Christian College, Townsville

g. St Ignatius’ College, Riverview

7. Any related matters.

Any person or institution who believes that they have a direct and substantial interest in the scope and purpose of the public hearing is invited to lodge a written application for leave to appear at the public hearing by 17 October 2016.

Applications for leave to appear should be made using the form available here.

Leave to appear will generally be granted when an applicant:

* has been summoned to give evidence
* is an institution, or is a representative of an institution, that is subject to the inquiry to be undertaken
* may be the subject of an adverse allegation.

It is not essential for a person who will appear as a witness in a hearing to apply for leave to appear – witnesses may appear and give evidence without applying for leave.

The form should be lodged with the Royal Commission via:
Email: solicitor@childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au; or Mail: GPO Box 5283, Sydney NSW 2001.

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