Royal Commission to hold public hearing into Satyananda Yoga Ashram

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
November 11, 2014

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-release/1733/royal-commission-to-hold-public-hearing-into-satyananda-yoga-ashram

The Royal Commission is holding a public hearing in Sydney from 2 December 2014 at 10:00am.

The public hearing will inquire into the response of the Satyananda Yoga Ashram located at Mangrove Mountain, New South Wales, to allegations of child sexual abuse by the Ashram’s former spiritual leader in the 1970s and 1980s. 

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

1. The response between 1974 and 2014 of the Satyananda Yoga Ashram at Mangrove Mountain, New South Wales, to allegations or reports of child sexual abuse made against Swami Akhandananda Saraswati.
2. The operation of the Ashram between 1974 and 1989 in relation to matters of child sexual abuse.
3. The systems, policies and procedures in place at the Ashram between 1974 and 1989, and currently, in relation to raising and responding to allegations of or concerns about child sexual abuse.
4. 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 21 November 2014.

Applications for leave to appear should be made using the form available on the Royal Commission website entitled ‘Application for Leave to Appear at the Royal Commission’ and include a short submission setting out the basis on which it is said the applicant has a substantial and direct interest in appearing.

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