How the WA Government is implementing the recommendations from the Royal Commission to Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse

On 2 February 2021, the Western Australian Government released its third annual report on progress implementing the Royal Commission’s recommendations.

The Western Australian Government published the first and second annual progress reports in December 2018 and December 2019 respectively

• Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse 2020 Progress Report
• Media statement: 23 December 2020 WA child protection centre to build on work of Royal Commission
• Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse 2019 Progress Report
• Media statement: 22 December 2019 App gives more children a voice in response to Royal Commission
• Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse 2018 Progress Report
• Media statement: 19 December 2018 First annual progress report on Royal Commission released

On 27 June 2018, the Western Australian Government announced its response to the Royal Commission’s 409 recommendations.

• Royal Commission response speech - delivered by Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk.
• WA Response 2018 - response by Minister McGurk on behalf of the Government of Western Australian
• WA response recommendations - detailed responses to each of the 409 recommendations 
• Media statement: (27 June 2019) WA responds to Royal Commission and signs up to National Redress Scheme
• Media statements: (27 June 2019) WA to sign up to National Redress Scheme

On 27 June 2018, the Premier of Western Australia delivered a formal apology in the Western Australian Parliament to all Western Australian survivors of child sexual abuse .

• Premier of Western Australia's Royal Commission response and apology.

On 15 December 2017, the Western Australian Government released its “Statement of Intent by Minister McGurk on behalf of the Government of Western Australia”. This indicated the Western Australian Government’s strong commitment to thoroughly considering the Royal Commission’s recommendations. A clear commitment was made to address historical abuse; prevent abuse from happening; and identify and respond swiftly to abuse should it occur again.

• Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Statement of Intent 

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended the establishment of a National Centre for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (National Centre) which will focus on addressing child sexual abuse by reducing the associated stigma, promoting help-seeking and supporting good practice.

The National Centre is a partnership between the Australian Government and all state and territory governments and will ensure WA has critical input into national leadership on these issues.