TASMANIAN institutions examined during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have reiterated that they already have schemes in place, after it was estimated that survivors could be entitled to share compensation and counselling worth $74 million.
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The Examiner reported yesterday that more than 1500 Tasmanian survivors of child sexual abuse might be entitled to share restitution worth $74 million, according to a consultation paper released by the Royal Commission on Friday.
Last year in Hobart, the Royal Commission hosted public hearings about child sexual abuse that took place at the Hutchins School in the 1960s and inquired into responses from the school and the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania.
Yesterday, The Hutchins School chairman David Morris said the school had a scheme, including a compensation element, which mirrored that established by the Anglican Church in Tasmania.
"The Hutchins School informed the Royal Commission that it already has in place a comprehensive care and assistance scheme which includes independent counselling for former students and victims of child sexual abuse who have been identified," Mr Morris said.
A spokesman for the Anglican Church in Tasmania said the church was unable to comment while the Royal Commission was still considering its findings.
When asked about the Anglican Church compensation scheme, the spokesman referred The Examiner to previous statements made by the church.
In June last year, the Anglican Church of Australia Royal Commission Working Group made a submission to the commission about redress schemes which stated: "A number of diocese comprising the Anglican Church of Australia have in place pastoral care and assistance schemes to respond to those who suffer child sexual abuse."
