Case studies

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse held 57 formal public hearings (case studies) during which it heard evidence about child sexual abuse within institutions, from 1,200 witnesses over 400 days of hearings, across Australian capital cities and in several regions. These case studies focused on how institutions have responded to allegations and proven instances of child sexual abuse.

The Royal Commission was not a court of law and could not make decisions about criminal matters. Rather, the Commissioners delivered recommendations based on what they learned during public hearings.

For further information on individual case studies including details about the scope of the 57 formal public hearings, findings, witness lists, transcripts, exhibits, images and associated submissions, visit the Case studies page of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse website.

• Case Study 01: Scouts and Hunter Aboriginal Children’s Service
• Case Study 02: YMCA NSW
• Case Study 03: North Coast Children’s Home
• Case Study 04: The Towards Healing process
• Case Study 05: The Salvation Army boys; home, Australia Eastern Territory
• Case Study 06: Toowoomba catholic school and Catholic Education Office
• Case Study 07: Parramatta Training School for Girls
• Case Study 08: Mr John Ellis, Towards Healing and civil litigation
• Case Study 09: St Ann’s Special School
• Case Study 10: The Salvation Army claims handling, Australia Eastern Territory
• Case Study 11: Christian Brothers
• Case Study 12: Perth independent school
• Case Study 13: Marist Brothers
• Case Study 14: Catholic Diocese of Wollongong
• Case Study 15: Swimming Australia and the DPP
• Case Study 16: The Melbourne Response
• Case Study 17: Retta Dixon Home
• Case Study 18: Australian Christian Churches
• Case Study 19: Bethcar Children’s Home
• Case Study 20: The Hutchins School
• Case Study 21: Satyananda Yoga Ashram
• Case Study 22: Yeshiva Bondi and Yeshiva Melbourne
• Case Study 23: Knox Grammar School
• Case Study 24: Out-of-home care
• Case Study 25: Redress and civil litigation
• Case Study 26: St Joseph’s Orphanage, Neerkol
• Case Study 27: Health care providers and regulators, New South Wales and Victoria
• Case Study 28: Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat
• Case Study 29: Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Case Study 30: Youth detention centres, Victoria
• Case Study 31: Retired Catholic Bishop Geoffrey Robinson
• Case Study 32: Geelong Grammar School
• Case Study 33: The Salvation Army children’s homes, Australia Southern Territory
• Case Study 34: Brisbane Grammar School and St Paul’s School
• Case Study 35: Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne
• Case Study 36: Church of England Boys’ Society
• Case Study 37: Centres for performing arts
• Case Study 38: Criminal justice issues
• Case Study 39: Sporting clubs and institutions
• Case Study 40: Australian Defence Force
• Case Study 41: Disability service providers
• Case Study 42: Anglican Diocese of Newcastle
• Case Study 43: Catholic Church authorities in Maitland-Newcastle
• Case Study 44: Catholic Church authorities in Armidale and Parramatta
• Case Study 45: Problematic and harmful sexual behaviours of children in schools
• Case Study 46: On the criminal justice consultation paper
• Case Study 47: Institutional review of YMCA NW
• Case Study 48: Institutional review of Scouts and Hunter Aboriginal Children’s Service
• Case Study 49: Institutional review of The Salvation Army
• Case Study 50: Institutional review of Catholic Church authorities
• Case Study 51: Institutional review of Commonwealth, state and territory governments
• Case Study 52: Institutional review of Anglican Church authorities
• Case Study 53: Institutional review of Yeshiva
• Case Study 54: Institutional review of Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Case Study 55: Institutional review of Australian Christian Churches
• Case Study 56: Institutional review of Uniting Church in Australia
• Case Study 57: Nature, cause and impact of child sexual abuse