This Opening Statement was delivered by Executive Officer of the Uniting Church in Australia’s Royal Commission Task Group Rev. John Cox to the Joint Select Committee hearing on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Uniting Church members are being called on to do their part to make our Church, agencies and schools the safest they can be for children and all people in our care.

The Royal Commission on Child Sexual Abuse handed down its 17-volume report on 15 December 2017, bringing the landmark inquiry to a close after almost five years.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Five years after its announcement, Australia’s landmark Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse has handed its Final Report to Government.

On this occasion I want to acknowledge the extensive and invaluable body of work produced by the Royal Commission and its staff, and remind all Church members of our solemn commitment to child safety that is informed by the Commission’s work.

Uniting Church leaders appearing before the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse have pledged to survivors to make the Church the safest place it can be for children.

On behalf of the Uniting Church in Australia I sincerely apologise to all children in our care who suffered sexual abuse, of any kind, in our Church, whether it happened since union of 1977 or before that in our predecessor Churches.

Below is a Pastoral Statement on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse from the President of the Uniting Church in Australia Stuart McMillan.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Friday 10 March 2017 the Uniting Church in Australia will appear at a public hearing for Case Study 56 of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse.

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia Mr Stuart McMillan has welcomed the Federal Government's announcement of a national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse in institutions.

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia Stuart McMillan has welcomed the commitment by the Federal Government to develop a national approach to redress for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia Stuart McMillan has thanked Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten for his commitment to a national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse in Australian institutions.

“I warmly welcome Mr Shorten’s promise to establish a National Redress Scheme,” said Mr McMillan.

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia Stuart McMillan has welcomed the Redress and Civil Litigation Report released by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

“We are pleased that the Royal Commission’s Report recommends that a process for redress must provide equal access and equal treatment for survivors,” said Mr McMillan.