Frequently asked questions
Please find below responses to some commonly asked questions.
What is the Government Response?
- On 1 December 2023, the Government released its Response to the Commission of Inquiry Report – Keeping Children Safe and Rebuilding Trust .
- The Government Response commits to implementing all 191 recommendations made by the Commission in its Final Report over a three response phases:
- Phase 1 focuses on those that will be delivered by July 2024
- Phase 2 focuses on those that will be delivered by July 2026
- Phase 3 focuses on those that will be delivered by July 2029
- The implementation of the recommendations represent six years’ worth of solid work across the Tasmanian State Service.
- The Government’s Response outlines how the Commission’s 191 recommendations will be implemented – over the short, medium and longer term. It identifies the lead Agencies, and organises all of the actions against six themes:
- Accountability and Integrity
- Collaboration and Integration
- Participation and Empowerment
- Prevention and Protection
- Workforce Expertise and Capability
- Child Safe Cultures and Awareness Raising
- The Government will work with victim-survivors, through appropriately independent and multipartisan arrangements, to meet our commitment to respond to the Commission’s recommendations openly, transparently and accountably.
Where can I read the Response?
What is the timeline for the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations?
- The Government Response delivers 83% of the recommendations within three years (by July 2026).
- 52 recommendations were identified by the Commission to be actioned by Phase 1 (1 July 2024). The Government Response will deliver 48 recommendations in this timeframe.
- 107 recommendations were identified by the Commission to be actioned by Phase 2 (July 2026). The Government Response will deliver 110 recommendations in this timeframe.
- 32 recommendations were identified by the Commission to be actioned by Phase 3 (July 2029). The Government Response will deliver 33 recommendations in this timeframe.
Why are there differences in the timelines from the original Commission of Inquiry Report?
- Some timelines may have changed due to the complexities and interdependencies of the recommendations. This could be, for example:
- multiple recommendations relating to the review of the Teachers Registration Act 2000 will be pursued together (and current procedures under the Act for responding to incidents or allegations will remain in the meantime).
- amendments are contingent on the implementation of other amendments, for example, recommendation 21.9 (to amend the Youth Justice Act 1997 to enable new interventions for at-risk children and young people) depends on a broader recommendation to review the Youth Justice Act as part of recommendation 12.15.
- Some of the COI recommendations can be completed sooner. Examples of recommendations that will be brought forward are:
- the establishment by the Department for Education, Children and Young People of a Harmful Sexual Behaviours Support Unit (recommendation 9.28). This will be completed in Phase 2, rather than Phase 3, to enable the Unit to support other important work to address harmful sexual behaviours in schools, child safety services, out of home care and youth detention.
- enhancements to the Department of Health’s cultural improvement program in line with recommendation 15.4 will be brought forward to 2024 (from 2026) because work is already underway in line with the recommendation.
What was the Commission of Inquiry?
- The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings was established on 15 March 2021 by Order of the Governor of Tasmania.
- Under its terms of reference, the Commission was asked to inquire into what the Tasmanian Government should do to:
- better protect children against child sexual abuse in institutional contexts in the future
- achieve best practice in the reporting of, and responding to reports or information about, allegations, incidents or risks of child sexual abuse in institutional contexts
- eliminate or reduce problems that currently prevent appropriate responses to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts, including addressing failures in, and barriers to, reporting, investigation and responding to allegations and incidents of abuse, and
- address or alleviate the impact of past and future child sexual abuse in institutional contexts, including, in particular, in ensuring justice for victims through processes for referrals for investigation and prosecution and support services.
- The Commission was also asked to inquire into the adequacy and appropriateness of the Tasmanian Government’s responses to allegations and incidents of child sexual abuse in institutional contexts generally, and in particular by:
- the Department of Education to allegations of child sexual abuse in Tasmanian Government schools
- the Tasmanian Health Service and the Department of Health to allegations of child sexual abuse, particularly in the matter of James Geoffrey Griffin, and
- the Department of Communities Tasmania to allegations of child sexual abuse at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
- The Commission handed its Report to the Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, on 31 August 2023.
- Its work is now concluded, and the Commission has ended.
- You can check the Commission’s website for more information on its processes: https://www.commissionofinquiry.tas.gov.au
Where can I read the Commission of Inquiry Report?
- An electronic copy of the Report has been published on the Commission of Inquiry website.
- Hardcopies are available on request. Please email your details to keepingchildrensafe@dpac.tas.gov.au. Be mindful that the hard copy of the full Report is large and heavy. It may take several weeks for the hard copy to be sent to you.
I don’t own a computer and would like to access the Report, is it available in hardcopy?
- Hardcopies of the Commission of Inquiry's report are available through Libraries Tasmania.
- All Library locations have computers that are free and can be used to access the Commission of Inquiry Report and the Government's response online.
- The Report has been published on the Commission’s website.
Who do I contact for more information?
- Email: KeepingChildrenSafe@dpac.tas.gov.au
- Website: Keeping Children Safe
- Phone: 1800 093 758
What support is available?
- Content in the Commission of Inquiry Report and the Government Response may evoke strong emotions. Reader discretion is advised.
- If you need to talk to someone, support is available.
- Reach out to your usual healthcare providers including your local GP or Psychologist.
If you don’t have these in place, then there are other supports available, including:
Lifeline
- 24/7 Crisis support: 13 11 14
- Tasmanian Lifeline - 8am-8pm, 365 days a year: 1800 98 44 34
State-wide Sexual Assault Support Line
- 24/7 Support from specialist counsellors provided by the Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) and Laurel House: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
Relationships Australia Tasmania
- Counselling, wellbeing information and referral
- 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday: 1300 364 277
Beyond Blue
- 24/7 counselling: 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline
- 24/7 Support for children and young people provided by specialist counsellors: 1800 55 1800
In an emergency, always call 000.