The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Sydney from Monday 6 to Friday 24 February 2017.

The public hearing inquired into the current policies and procedures of Catholic Church authorities in Australia in relation to child protection and child-safe standards, including responding to allegations of child sexual abuse.

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

1. The current policies and procedures of Catholic Church authorities in Australia in relation to child protection and child-safe standards, including responding to allegations of child sexual abuse.
2. Factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of child sexual abuse at Catholic Church institutions in Australia.
3. Factors that may have affected the institutional response of Catholic Church authorities in Australia to child sexual abuse.
4. The responses of Catholic Church authorities in Australia to relevant case study report(s) and other Royal Commission reports.
5. Data relating to the extent of claims of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church of Australia.
6. Any related matters.

The purpose of this public hearing is not to inquire into individual sets of facts or particular events as has occurred in previous Royal Commission case studies.

Read Analysis of claims of child sexual abuse made with respect to Catholic Church institutions in Australia.