Children must be listened to and reports of abuse taken seriously
Authority and respect for trusted institutions in Australian society should never override reports of danger to young people, Justice Peter McClellan told the Association of Children's Welfare Agencies in Sydney this week.
He said allegations made by children must be appropriately heard and investigated, regardless of where they originate, and without institutions or their leaders being able to diminish the preparedness of adults to act.
This week the Royal Commission issued a rare statement on the question of a public hearing into the sexual abuse of children in immigration detention centres. It beggars belief that as the child abuse Royal Commission was underway, both major parties sanctioned the detention of children and young people in circumstances that were far from safe. It's hard not to see the situation on Nauru as another example of the inertia of governments to deal with glaring issues of abuse.
And speaking of inertia, the Federal Government has had the Royal Commission's final report calling for a national redress scheme since September last year, and we've heard nothing, unless you call a commitment to look at the recommendations a response.
Teachers and other education professionals will be able to develop their knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues and responses to safeguarding children and young people through a unique new course developed by the Australian Catholic University at the request of Catholic Education Melbourne being launched today.
The Royal Commission's public hearing to inquire into the response of Catholic Church authorities in the Maitland-Newcastle region to allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy and religious will now commence on Wednesday 31 August 2016.
Case Study 43 was initially scheduled to start on Monday 29 August 2016, however it has been delayed to accommodate two additional hearing days for the public hearing into the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle.
RC publishes submissions to Catholic wrap-up hearing
The Royal Commission has published 44 submissions received in response to Issues Paper 11, which deals with factors which may have contributed to the occurrence of child sexual abuse in Catholic institutions and the Church's response.
The issues paper and submissions will inform the Commission's final public hearing into the Catholic Church to be held in early 2017.
The Royal Commission announced this week it has an ongoing investigation in relation to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's response to allegations of child sexual abuse in detention centres. Whether or not a public hearing is warranted has not been determined.
SA Premier, Jay Weatherill has released draft legislation to implement Royal Commissioner Margaret Nyland's recommendation for a Children's Commissioner in South Australia.
Mr Weatherill announced a Children's Commissioner would be able to campaign for children's rights as well as investigate system-wide complaints.
18 Aug 2016: Holy Name of Mary Parish presentation Hunters Hill 25 August 2016: Catholic Theological College Royal Commission seminar 29 August 2016 to 9 September 2016: Case study 43: Diocese of Maitland Newcastle hearing 12 September: Case study 44, Fr Farrell - Dioceses of Parramatta 20 Sept 2016: St Aloysius College staff development day 31 September 2016: St Vincent De Paul social justice meeting 8 November 2016: Spirituality in the Pub, Notting Hill, Victoria
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