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Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and Victorian Council of Social Service Responding to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Wednesday 1 May 2013. Organisational Governance - Risks and Responsibilities Peter Johnstone OAM
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Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and Victorian Council of Social ServiceResponding to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual AbuseWednesday 1 May 2013 Organisational Governance- Risks and Responsibilities Peter Johnstone OAM Chairman, VincentCare Victoria PJ Governance 1 May 2013
Sexual abuse – Two levels of Criminality • The actual sexual abuse of children • The aggravation of those abuses by organisations responsible for the abusers • failing to act in accordance with the organisation’s basic values, and • protecting abusers, protecting the organisation, failing to protect children, and exposing further children to abuse. PJ Governance 1 May 2013
Corporate governance • the processes by which organisations are directed, controlled and held to account • organisations achieving their missions in an accountable and ethical manner, focused on outcomes and managing risks • boards and managers meeting their responsibilities for effective and ethical leadership • authority, accountability, stewardship, leadership, direction and control exercised in the organisation • culture promoting values PJ Governance 1 May 2013
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse • “inquire into institutional responses to allegations and incidents of child sexual abuse and related matters.” • seek justice for victims • ensure necessary changes to society and its institutions to prevent such scandalous situation ever recurring. • The Letters Patent require that • best practice (be) identified so that it may be followed in the future • to protect against the occurrence of child sexual abuse and • to respond appropriately when any allegations and incidents of child sexual abuse occur, including holding perpetrators to account and providing justice to victims. PJ Governance 1 May 2013
The Challenge for Organisations • What went wrong that has led to this major inquiry? • The governance of my organisation and others • What can we contribute to the Royal Commission? • What are the principles that will guide our response? • What are the risks of inadequate responses – risks to organisations and to children? PJ Governance 1 May 2013
Organisational Responsibilities • Accountability and Values • Recruitment and Supervision • Reporting of crime to civil authorities • Governance structures PJ Governance 1 May 2013
The Obvious Questions • How could this happen: particularly totally inadequate and at times criminal responses by organisations that claim lofty ideals? • - organisations whose very purpose is the good of others whether grounded in religious or humanitarian motives. • What steps do organisations need to take to ensure that such dysfunctional and irresponsible organisational behaviour cannot occur again? • Much present governance has been shown to be woefully inadequate. PJ Governance 1 May 2013
QUESTIONS/ OBSERVATIONS ??? PJ Governance 1 May 2013