Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was established in January 2013 by the Australian Government. The Royal Commission’s findings highlighted serious failings in the way institutions protect children and young people, and deal with reports of abuse when they occur.

Six commissioners conducted the 5-year inquiry using a trauma-informed approach, including private sessions, public hearings and issues papers.

The inquiry had a national focus and looked at a range of institutional contexts, such as children in care, youth justice facilities, sporting and other clubs, religious organisations, schools and charities.

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

The Royal Commission presented its final report in December 2017, with 409 recommendations made across 4 staged reports, of which 256 were directed to the Government of South Australia to action. The State Government committed to taking action to reduce the risk of institutional child sexual abuse and better support victims and survivors.

On 14 June 2018, the Government of South Australia released its response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The government also published updates for each report of the Royal Commission.

Work to implement the 253 recommendations accepted by the Government of South Australia occurred across the State Government. Each recommendation was assigned to a government agency to lead implementation.