Royal Commission

The Royal Commission Working Group was established by the Standing Committee of General Synod at its meeting in November 2012 I response to the establishment of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (SC2012/2/16).

Terms of Reference

The function of the Royal Commission Working Group is:

1.    The Standing Committee:

a)    reaffirms the commitment of the Anglican Church of Australia to the physical, emotional and spiritual safety and welfare of the children in its care;

b)    repeats the apology made by the Thirteenth Session of General Synod in October 2004 to all children who have been sexually abused by clergy and church workers of the Anglican Church of Australia;

c)    welcomes the announcement of the establishment of a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse covering organisations including churches; and

d)    welcomes the opportunity the Royal Commission will bring for the Anglican Church of Australia to review its policies and procedures to protect children from harm.

2.    The Standing Committee, recognising the importance of a national response on behalf of the Anglican Church of Australia, establishes a Royal Commission Working Group with the following functions:

a)    To participate in the consultation on the terms of reference of the Royal Commission;

b)    To facilitate a review of past complaints of child sexual abuse notified to the dioceses and associated Anglican schools and agencies, and ensure that all appropriate steps have been taken in dealing with those complaints including reporting them to the police where appropriate.

c)    To identify the policies and procedures currently in place in each of the dioceses and associated Anglican schools and agencies to respond to and prevent child sexual abuse.

d)    To identify national best practice policies and procedures to respond to and prevent child sexual abuse and facilitate their implementation by the dioceses and associated Anglican schools and agencies including arranging for the preparation of all necessary legislation for the next General Synod.

e)    Prepare all submissions necessary to respond to the Royal Commission.

f)     Advise dioceses on their response to and participation in the Royal Commission.

g)    Co-ordinate management of issues arising out of the Royal Commission in the Church and public domain.

h)    Contribute to the development of a more national framework for child protection.

i)      Such other functions necessary to respond to the Royal Commission.

3.    The Standing Committee requests the Royal Commission Working Group to consult with the Safe Ministry Commission in fulfilling its functions and such other persons it considers appropriate.

4.    The Standing Committee requests that each of the dioceses and associated Anglican schools and agencies fully cooperate with the Royal Commission Working Group including providing all relevant information, and assistance necessary to fulfil its functions.

MEMBERSHIP

The current members of the RCWG are:

• The Primate (ex officio)
• The General Secretary (ex officio)
• Mr Garth Blake SC (Chair)
• Ms Sue Harrington (Lawyer, SA)
• Mr Ken Spackman (Diocesan Registrar, Vic)
• Ms Helen Miller (Counsellor, NSW)
• Ms Kasy Chambers (CEO Anglicare Australia, ACT)
• The Rev’d Andrew Ford (General Manager Mission and Partnerships, Anglicare Sydney)
• Ms Sherril Molloy (Member of the Executive, Anglican Schools Australia, Qld)
• The Rev’d Jan Crombie

REPORTS TO GENERAL SYNOD

Royal Commission Working Group report to General Synod 2017

Read more on the work of the Royal Commission Working Group, see Safe Ministry / Royal Commission