Royal Commission into child sexual abuse: Salvos failed to protect boys, report finds

By Rachel Browne
Sydney Morning Herald
March 17, 2015

http://www.smh.com.au/national/royal-commission-into-child-sexual-abuse-salvos-failed-to-protect-boys-report-finds-20150317-1m15ns.html

There was evidence of horrific abuse at four Salvos homes in NSW and Queensland.

The Salvation Army failed to protect boys in its care from sexual abuse and punished many who reported assaults, according to a damning royal commission report published on Tuesday.

The report found that The Salvation Army received more than 100 claims of child sexual abuse concerning boys' homes, but in most cases those who reported were disbelieved, told they were liars, punished or ignored.

"In most cases, the boys who reported the abuse were punished, disbelieved, accused of lying or no action was taken." 

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard evidence about horrific abuse in four boys' homes in NSW and Queensland between the 1950s and the 1970s.

The homes were Indooroopilly and Riverview in Queensland and Gill and Bexley in New South Wales.

Commissioners found that The Salvation Army's policies and procedures did not provide enough oversight of managers who, in some cases, were involved in the abuse.

They also concluded that the organisation failed to provided adequate training to staff to ensure a safe environment for the children in their care.

While state government child welfare staff members visited the homes, the commissioners found that abuse went unreported due to lack of direct interaction between staff and the boys and a general failure to refer abuse to the police.

The Salvation Army released a statement saying the organisation was considering the findings of the report.

"Once again, The Salvation Army wishes to express its deepest sorrow to survivors and their families who have been traumatised and hurt as a result of our failures," it said.

"We acknowledge that the need for some survivors to re-tell of their experiences through the royal commission has caused them and their families great pain and sadness. We regret that because of our past failings this has been necessary - we are grateful to them for having the courage to do so."

The Salvation Army no longer runs childrens' homes.