Due the work – and the reports – of Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, it has emerged that all jurisdictions must put into place protections for children in all institutions in the community and set forth standards for Child Safe Organisations. Multicultural and Multi-faith organisations will also be required to comply. The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) and the Victorian Cooperative on Children’s Services for Ethnic Groups (VICSEG) have been contracted by the Commission for Children and Young People to assist organisations like these to meet the Child Safe Standards.
Royal Commission
Religions for Peace Australia is providing coverage of state and national inquiries into child sexual abuse with multi-faith and interfaith perspectives as a service to the interfaith community.
This select coverage is offered as service to the religious and faith communities of Australia; there is no intention to single out nor provide critique of any single institution … Religions for Peace gives service to multifaith, multicultural and Interfaith networks.
Royal Commission releases report into Satyananda Yoga Ashram
The Royal Commission’s report into Case Study 21 – the response of the Satyananda Yoga Ashram at Mangrove Mountain NSW to allegations of child sexual abuse by the ashram’s former spiritual leader in the 1970s and 1980s – was released on 16 September 2016.
Royal Commission: Submissions on best practice when responding to complaints of institutional child sexual abuse
The Royal Commission has published 35 submissions received from a range of organisations and individuals in response to its consultation paper: Best practice principles in responding to complaints of child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. The Commission received submissions from sector peak bodies, government agencies, survivor advocacy and support groups, religious institutions and other interested parties.
Royal Commission releases consultation paper on records and recordkeeping
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a consultation paper that addresses records and recordkeeping practices in relation to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. The consultation paper, Records and recordkeeping practices, examines the records and recordkeeping practices of both older and contemporary institutions, identifying key areas of concern.
Royal Commission releases report on family relationships and the disclosure of institutional child sexual abuse
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a report that has found the social, institutional and cultural context in which a family operates deeply influences disclosure of child sexual abuse. The report, Family relationships and the disclosure of institutional child sexual abuse, examined the long-term effects of disclosures of institutional child sexual abuse on families and was prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).
Royal Commission: Address to Judicial College of Victoria
The Hon. Justice Peter McClellan AM, Chair of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, gave an address today to the Judicial College of Victoria on August 19th. The address is titled “Meeting and managing community expectations”, and is being given as part of the Judicial College of Victoria’s Historical Sexual Offences program.
Royal Commission identifies what makes institutions child safe
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a research report examining what elements make an institution ‘child safe’ using the opinions of a panel of Australian and international experts.
Royal Commission: Address to Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies National Conference
The Hon. Justice Peter McClellan AM, Chair of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, addressed the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies National Conference in Sydney on Monday 15 August, 2016. Justice McClelland spoke to addressing the needs of those who have experienced abuse in care as children — implications of findings from the Royal Commission.
Pope Praises 1st Graduates of Gregorian’s Safeguarding Minors Diploma
From Vatican Radio:
Pope Francis has commended the Pontifical Gregorian University’s recently created Centre for Child Protection (CCP) and expressed his hope that new graduates will be “brave and committed” to the prevention of sexual abuse of minors. On Tuesday, the first 19 students of the Centre’s new Diploma of Advanced Studies, “Safeguarding Minors” received their degree in a graduation ceremony in Rome.
Sexual Abuse: Pope Specifies Rules for Removing Negligent Bishops From Office
Pope Francis on Saturday released an apostolic letter in the form of a Motu Proprio, stipulating that bishops who have been negligent in protecting their flock from sexual abuse can be removed from office.
The Ethics of Yoga Teaching
Yoga Australia, a professional association for yoga teachers, met on the Gold Coast to discuss the do’s and dont’s of yoga practice, which in some cases has resulted in abuse of vulnerable students by unscrupulous teachers. It’s no longer a taboo topic: people are speaking out about abuse within the teacher-student relationship in yoga practice writes Rachael Kohn, host of The Spirit of Things.
Royal Commission to close registration for private sessions
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is closing registrations for private sessions on 30 September 2016. Private sessions allow survivors of child sexual abuse in an institution to share their story directly with a Commissioner in a private setting. The Hon. Justice Peter McClellan AM, Chair of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse said the strong demand from survivors to share their story has resulted in a queue of people waiting to meet with a Commissioner.
