Details

This Inquiry was established to assess each claim of past abuse and make recommendations to the Department for individual reparation, apart from the ex-gratia payment available through the Claims of Abuse in State Care Program, prepare a report providing a general overview of the information collected and identify any issues relevant to current practice that emerged.

The Process
The Inquiry was undertaken through private sessions.

Private Sessions
Rather than hold formal hearings the inquiry took the form of a listening exercise, taking calls from those who had been abused in care.

Written Submissions
Applicants had to apply to have their stories assessed.

Witnesses
There were 364 applicants whom met the criteria.

Institutions
Residential care institutions covered by the inquiry were both single sex and mixed.

Findings
The inquiry found that for for at least 50 years the state and non-government providers had failed in their duty of care to children.

Recommendations
9 recommendations were made. The Inquiry recommended the continuation of ex gratia payments, introduction of a trust fund to provide further education and training, investigation of recent claims, apologies from churches and other organisations, and the provision of counselling services.

Further Action
There were three further phases of the inquiry, which allowed a further 514 claims to be heard during 2005-06, 995 claims during 2007-10, and 541 from 2011-13.