Royal Commission Seven Years On: What Improvements Have Come from the Inquiry into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, established in 2013, was a watershed moment in Australia’s history, shining a light on the systemic failures that allowed the abuse of thousands of children spanning several decades and across various institutions, including religious organisations, schools, orphanages, and sports clubs. Seven years after the final report was delivered in 2017, we look at some of the significant improvements that have been made, as well Kooyoora’s role and evolution in response to the findings and recommendations.
Key Reforms and Initiatives
Over the past seven years, significant changes have been implemented to address the failures that allowed abuse to occur.
Policy Changes
Child Safe Standards
The introduction of mandatory Child Safe Standards across Australia was a direct outcome of the Royal Commission’s recommendations. These policies support schools in creating and maintaining child-safe environments, protecting students from all forms of abuse. The standards require institutions to implement comprehensive child protection measures, including risk management, child participation, and transparent reporting processes. Victoria led the way by adopting these standards in 2016, ensuring that organizations are held accountable for upholding child-safe environments.
National Redress Scheme
Launched in 2018, the National Redress Scheme was a landmark initiative by the Australian Government to address the immense harm caused by institutional child sexual abuse. The scheme was designed to provide survivors with three primary forms of redress: financial compensation, access to counseling and psychological services, and a direct personal response from the institutions responsible for the abuse. It marks a formal recognition by the government and participating institutions of the profound harm suffered by survivors and their commitment to addressing this harm. The scheme is a direct response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and is seen as an essential step in the broader process of reconciliation and healing for survivors across the country. Although the scheme has faced criticism for its complexity and the reluctance of some institutions to participate, it remains a critical policy shift aimed at acknowledging the harm suffered by survivors and providing them with avenues for redress.
Societal Changes
Increased Awareness and Education
The Royal Commission has played a key role in raising public awareness about the prevalence and impact of child sexual abuse. This has led to a societal shift in attitudes, with a greater emphasis on the importance of child protection and the responsibility of institutions to safeguard children.
Various educational programs have been implemented across Australia to train staff, parents, and the wider community on recognising and responding to signs of child sexual abuse. These programs aim to create safer environments for children by raising awareness and equipping adults with the necessary skills to identify and act on potential abuse.
Child Safe Standards Training (Commission for Children and Young People Victoria)- introduced in Victoria following the Royal Commission, Child Safe Standards training focuses on embedding a child-safe culture within organisations. The training covers how to recognise and respond to signs of abuse, risk management, and legal obligations.
National Principles for Child Safe Organisations - Developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission, these principles guide organisations in establishing child-safe environments. Training programs based on these principles educate employees and volunteers about safeguarding children, recognising abuse, and responding appropriately.
eSafety Commissioner Programs - The eSafety Commissioner offers programs and resources to help protect children online. These include training on recognising signs of online abuse, cyberbullying, and grooming, and responding effectively.
Child Protection Week Activities - Developed by National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), National Child Protection Week involves a series of educational activities and events aimed at raising awareness of child abuse and promoting strategies to prevent it. The week includes workshops, seminars, and public campaigns.
Enhanced Accountability
Institutions are now more accountable for their actions and inactions. The Commission’s work has led to cultural changes within organisations, where the priority is now firmly placed on the safety and well-being of children rather than on protecting the reputation of the institution. This cultural shift is vital in preventing the recurrence of past failures.
Prioritising Child Safety: Historically, many institutions prioritised their reputation over the protection of children, often leading to the concealment of abuse. The Royal Commission exposed these practices, prompting a significant shift in organisational culture towards safeguarding children as an institution's primary responsibility. This shift includes the need to create more robust policies, training, and daily operations to reflect this priority.
Leadership Accountability: There is growing recognition that institutional leaders must set the tone for a child-safe culture. Leaders are now held accountable for both their actions and the culture they foster within their organisations. This shift ensures that failures to protect children result in serious legal and professional consequences for those in leadership roles.
Structural and Legal Reforms
Mandatory Reporting and Legal Obligations: Legal reforms, including the introduction of mandatory reporting laws and new offenses such as "failure to protect" and "failure to report," have strengthened accountability. These laws ensure that institutions and individuals who do not act to prevent abuse or who attempt to cover it up can be held legally responsible.
Regulatory Oversight: Enhanced regulatory frameworks have been established to oversee institutions that work with children. These frameworks require regular audits, reporting, and compliance with child protection standards. Failure to meet these standards can result in penalties, loss of accreditation, or even closure of the institution.
Independent Review Bodies: Have been established to handle complaints, conduct investigations, and ensure compliance with child protection standards. These bodies operate independently of the institutions they oversee, providing an additional layer of accountability and transparency.
Kooyoora’s Role and Evolution
Kooyoora which was established in response to the findings of the Royal Commission has played a critical role in implementing changes based on Royal Commission findings, offering independent oversight and support for survivors, ensuring that institutions adhere to the highest standards of child protection. Our work reflects a broader cultural shift towards greater accountability and transparency within institutions, contributing to the ongoing efforts to safeguard children and vulnerbale adults in Australia.
Kooyoora has evolved to provide independent and trauma-informed management of professional standards and redress processes. Initially formed as an independent, not-for-profit entity to manage the Anglican Church’s Professional Standards system in Victoria and Tasmania, Kooyoora has since developed broader services related to, ethical conduct, redress, prevention and child safety training.
Independent Oversight
Kooyoora provides independent oversight of complaints and redress processes, ensuring that institutions are held accountable and that survivors receive fair treatment. This independence is crucial in restoring trust in organisations that were previously involved in covering up abuse.
2. Redress Scheme
Kooyoora’s Redress Scheme is designed to offer a compassionate and structured response to individuals who have experienced abuse within institutions, particularly those under the jurisdiction of religious and community organisations. The scheme provides an alternative to civil litigation by offering a supportive, independent process. The Redress Scheme reflects Kooyoora’s commitment to healing and justice, providing survivors with the recognition and support they deserve while helping institutions to acknowledge and rectify past wrongs.
Independent Process: Kooyoora manages the scheme independently, ensuring that the process is free from conflicts of interest, with a focus on fairness and transparency.
Accessible Pathway: The scheme provides an accessible pathway for survivors to seek redress without the complexities and emotional toll often associated with legal proceedings. It is particularly helpful for those who may feel uncomfortable pursuing claims through traditional legal channels.
Survivor-Centred Approach: The scheme is tailored to meet the unique needs of survivors, offering personalised support such as counseling, financial compensation, and other forms of redress that survivors may require.
Confidentiality and Sensitivity: The process is handled with the utmost confidentiality and sensitivity, respecting the dignity and privacy of all involved.
Emotional Support: Beyond financial compensation, the scheme emphasises emotional and psychological support, recognising the long-term impact of abuse.
Flexibility: Survivors have the flexibility to choose the type of redress that best suits their needs, whether it be an apology, compensation, or ongoing support services.
2. Trauma-Informed Approach
Kooyoora adopts a trauma-informed approach in all its dealings, recognising the profound impact that abuse has on survivors. This approach is reflected in the way complaints are handled, prioritising the needs and wellbeing of those affected by abuse.
3. Prevention - Culture Change through Organisational Development
Kooyoora's new Prevention Project is a key component of our overall mission to create safer environments within organisations by preventing abuse before it happens. This project focuses on identifying and addressing risks within internal cultures that may enable harmful behaviors. This approach helps organisations assess their culture, pinpoint areas of concern, and develop strategies to foster a safe and psychologically healthy environment. By implementing proactive measures and promoting a culture of vigilance, Kooyoora aims to stop abuse and misconduct at their roots, thereby protecting both individuals and organisations from potential harm.