Royal Commission to Hold Public Hearing into Catholic Church Authorities in Ballarat

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
May 5, 2015

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2015-05/royal-commission-to-hold-public-hearing-into-catho

The Royal Commission will hold public hearings in Ballarat. The first public hearing commences on Tuesday 19 May 2015 and the second will commence on a date to be announced.

The scope and purpose of the first public hearing is to hear:

From residents, students and others of their experiences of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and religious associated with the following institutions run by Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat:

St Joseph’s Home, Ballarat

St Alipius Primary School, Ballarat East

St Alipius Parish, Ballarat East

St Patrick’s College, Ballarat

St Patrick’s Christian Brothers Boys Primary School, Ballarat.

From residents, students and others about the impact of their experiences of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and religious associated with institutions run by Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat.

From members of the community of Ballarat about the impact of child sexual abuse on the community of Ballarat.

The response of relevant Catholic Church authorities to:

the impact of child sexual abuse on survivors of child sexual abuse, their families and the community of Ballarat; and

survivors of child sexual abuse, their families and the community of Ballarat following the conviction of Catholic clergy and religious for acts of child sexual abuse committed at institutions associated with Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat.

From Catholic clergy who have been convicted of child sexual offences which took place within the geographical bounds of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat.

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 12 May 2015.

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.

For more information on lodging your submission email solicitor@childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au

The public hearing will be streamed live to the public via webcast on the Royal Commission’s website at www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au.

Interested individuals and organisations are encouraged to view the proceedings via the webcast.

Due to limited room in the Ballarat Magistrates Court, an overflow area next door in the Ballarat Steakhouse has been set up with a webcast of the hearing for members of the public.