The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Perth from Monday 28 April to Wednesday 7 May 2014.

The public hearing inquired into the experiences of a number of men who were resident at Christian Brothers’ residences in Western Australia and the responses of the Christian Brothers and relevant Western Australian State authorities to allegations of child sexual abuse at the residences.

The scope and purpose of the public hearing was to inquire into:

1. The experiences of a number of men who were resident at one or more of the residences operated by the Congregation of Christian Brothers (the Christian Brothers) in Western Australia: Castledare Junior Orphanage, St Vincent’s Orphanage Clontarf, St Mary’s Agricultural School Tardun and Bindoon Farm School (the Christian Brothers’ institutions).

2. The response of the former Christian Brothers’ Province of Western Australia and South Australia and the current Province of Oceania and relevant Western Australian State authorities to complaints made about any member of the Christian Brothers who was engaged in teaching or other activities at each of the Christian Brothers’ institutions.

3. The conduct of the claims made through Towards Healing, Redress WA, civil action and/or directly to the Christian Brothers for compensation or assistance by each of the residents and the experience of each in the relevant process.

4. The evidence and findings of other inquiries relating to the Christian Brothers’ institutions.

5. Any other related matters.