The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Rockhampton from Tuesday 14 to Wednesday 22 April 2015.

The public hearing inquired into the experiences of a number of men and women who were resident at St Joseph’s Orphanage, Neerkol operated by the Sisters of Mercy between 1940 and 1975.

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

1. The experiences of a number of men and women who were resident at St Joseph’s Orphanage, Neerkol operated by the Sisters of Mercy between 1940 and 1975.
2. The responses of:
   
   1. the Sisters of Mercy;
   2. the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton; and
   3. the Queensland state government

   to complaints made by former residents of St Joseph’s Orphanage, Neerkol of child sexual abuse by workers, priests and nuns at the Orphanage between 1993 and present.

3. Any related matters.