The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is one of four commissions or inquiries into sexual abuse and institutional failure recently undertaken in Australia. The Royal Commission focused on identifying things to be done in the future to prevent child sexual abuse, and to bring those who commit or cover up offences to account.

Final information update

On 12 November 2012 the then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced that she would recommend to the Governor-General that a Royal Commission be appointed to inquire into institutional responses to child abuse. On 15 December 2017 the Royal Commission presented a final report to the Governor-General, detailing the culmination of a five year inquiry into institutional responses to child sexual abuse and related matters.

You can read more about The Royal Commission and the final report on our learning portal. The final report is also available on the Royal Commission website.

National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme is one of the outcomes of the Royal Commission. It provides support to people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse. Read more.

Royal Commission links

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Childhood Sexual Abuse

Further information:

• Fact sheet: Powers of a Royal Commission [ 53 kb]
• Plain English explanation of the Terms of Reference [ 66 kb]

First sitting of the Royal Commission

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Commission) held its first sitting at 10.00 am on Wednesday 3 April 2013 at the County Court of Victoria, 250 William Street, Melbourne.

All Commissioners were present. The Chair, Justice McClellan AM, provided information on the work of the Royal Commission including the future conduct of public and private hearings. Senior Counsel assisting also delivered an opening statement. There was no evidence taken at this first sitting.

Other Inquiries

• Review of allegations of sexual and other abuse in Defence, conducted by DLA Piper, and the response of the Government to the report (Commonwealth Senate Committee).
• Inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations (Victoria Parliament).
• Child Sexual Abuse Special Commission of Inquiry (NSW Parliament).