Statement from Headmaster and the EREA

Dear Member of the St Patrick’s College Community,

Statement of preparation for the coming release of the findings of the Royal Commission: Case Study 28 (Catholic Church Authorities in the Ballarat Diocese)

This statement is issued jointly on behalf of St Patrick’s College and its governing body, Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA).

As you may be aware, in the next few months, the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Case Study 28 are expected to be published.- – The findings will reflect the sad and tragic experiences of many victims and survivors in our community and reveal systemic failures at individual and institutional levels within the Catholic Church in the Ballarat Diocese. – These events are deeply upsetting for the victims and survivors and their families, and also for many others in our broad community, and should never have happened.

We are anticipating that there will be widespread interest in the Royal Commission findings including sustained media focus on, and analysis of, historical events which occurred within the Ballarat Diocese. This focus may include individuals historically associated with the College. During this period we may need to speak to the students about the Royal Commission and why the College is featuring in the media, as appropriate to their age levels.

It is important to hold in our prayers the many Christian Brothers and lay staff who have made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of young men educated at St Patrick’s College over the past 124 years and our passionate -old boy- community.- They will also be significantly affected when the findings are released.

While matters examined by the Royal Commission are historical, St Patrick’s College is now, and will continue to be, a safe place for boys. The wellbeing and safety of all current and future students is of paramount importance to the College. The College has in place robust child protection policies and mandatory reporting practices to safeguard our students that are central to our staff induction programs and feature in annual staff professional development. – The College has worked assiduously to implement and ensure we are fully compliant with the new child safe standards introduced in every school this year across Victoria. We will be the first school in Victoria to begin implementation of the -Keeping Safe- curriculum in 2017. Our approach has been developed with the assistance of curriculum experts and enhanced through our ongoing conversations with victims and survivors.

In preparation for the Commission’s findings, the College has identified behaviours that align with our expectations around child protection. In collaboration with EREA, the College has discussed a range of actions that we may apply to individuals found by the Royal Commission to have engaged in behaviours that do not meet these expectations. Unacceptable behaviours include: where an- individual has been convicted of a child sexual offence (whether identified by the Royal Commission findings or otherwise), findings/admissions of actual knowledge of allegations of child sexual abuse and insufficient responsive action taken to protect children and findings/admissions that indicate that an individual was privy to rumour/or suspected allegations of child sexual abuse, which satisfied the Commission that the individual should have done more to protect children.

It is important to stress that the College makes no judgement or conclusions regarding potential findings of the Royal Commission.

We continue to emphasise to parents, students and the wider community that the College places the utmost importance on the wellbeing of boys entrusted to our care. The College hopes to role model, at every opportunity, responses that embody our child protection expectations and obligations in support of our mission of -raising fine boys to the status of great men-.-

While the last 18 months have been a very difficult time for victims and survivors and all members of St Patrick’s College and wider Ballarat community, it is with great hope that the College moves forward into the future as a proud Catholic Secondary College for boys in the Edmund Rice Tradition with behaviours, attitudes and expectations that continue to aspire to, and role model, the highest possible standards for the students in our care.

Yours Faithfully,

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Mr John Crowley- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Dr Wayne Tinsey

Headmaster – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Executive Director

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Edmund Rice Education Australia

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