The sex abuse royal commission went to some dark places — here's some of what it found

Case studies including horrific stories of abuse were aired during public hearings held by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse from September 2013 to March 2017. After five years of emotionally exhausting and confronting public hearings, the Commission will hand its report to the Governor-General this Friday. What you need to know: Most of the 57 case studies related to particular organisations and institutions, while others looked at broader issues like redress and civil litigation, criminal justice, out-of-home care and the harmful sexual behaviours of children in schools. Over 400 hearing days, 1,200 witnesses gave evidence. It was impossible for the Commission to hold hearings into all the institutions raised by survivors in private sessions. Instead, the Commission chose case studies by looking at how many people had reported abuse in a particular institution or group of institutions; the availability of witnesses and documents; whether the case raised systemic issues; the need to cover a range of institutions and the requirement hearings be held in all states and territories. The hearings were broadcast live online, giving everyone the chance to follow the Commission's work whether it was sitting in a capital city or regional centre.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-14/royal-commission-child-sex-abuse-case-studies/9250972