Time for the Churches to Own Their Crimes

Care Leavers Australia Network
October 21, 2012

http://www.clan.org.au/images/VIC%20Submission%20Press%20Release.pdf

[with pdf]

Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN) has recently completed a submission to the Victorian Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Organisations.

Although the Victorian Government has shown great initiative in instigating a parliamentary inquiry, CLAN is concerned that the current inquiry deliberately excludes the Victorian Government to avoid accountability through transparency.

Many Victorian Care Leavers who had government experiences in the 'care' system are now excluded. The inquiry is consequently discriminatory to former state wards.

The Victorian Government, through its predecessor agencies to the current Department of Human Services:

 Established 17 Orphanages, Children's Homes and other Institutions.

 Funded and inspected against standards religious and non-government organisations which 'cared' for state wards.1

It is clear in some cases that the Victorian Government's failure of duty of care enabled the criminal treatment of children by churches and charities.