Terms of Reference

On 17 April 2012, the Victorian Government announced the establishment of a Parliamentary Inquiry into matters relating to the handling of alleged criminal abuse of children by religious and other organisations.

The Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry is being conducted by the bipartisan Family & Community Development Committee. The Terms of Reference require the Committee to inquire into, consider and report to the Parliament on the processes by which and religious and other non-government organisations respond to the criminal abuse of children by personnel within their organisations including:

1. The practices, policies and protocols in such organisations for the handling of allegations of criminal abuse of children, including measures put in place by various organisations in response to concerns about such abuse within the organisation or the potential for such abuse to occur;
2. Whether there are systemic practices in such organisations that operate to preclude or discourage the reporting of suspected criminal abuse of children to State authorities; and
3. Whether changes to law or to practices, policies and protocols in such organisations are required to help prevent criminal abuse of children by personnel in such organisations and to deal with allegations of such abuse.

In undertaking the Inquiry, the Committee is required to be mindful of not encroaching upon the responsibilities of investigatory agencies or the courts in relation to particular cases or prejudicing the conduct or outcome of investigations or court proceedings.

The Committee is requested to report to the Parliament no later than 30 April 2013.

Download a copy of the Victorian Government Gazette No. S125

The Catholic Church in Victoria will fully cooperate with the Inquiry.

Information about the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry is available during the course of the Parliamentary Inquiry at the Parliament of Victoria website. For information go to Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Organisations on the Parliament of Victoria website.

Last updated: 8 August 2013