Former ward of the state launches fresh legal action over Christian Brothers conduct

A former ward of the state is suing the Christian Brothers alleging he was sexually abused at St Augustine’s Boys’ Home in Highton more than 50 years ago.

The Christian Brothers are facing fresh legal action over claims it permitted a culture of asexual abuse at a Geelong orphanage

The Christian Brothers are facing fresh legal action amid claims it permitted a culture of sexual abuse at a notorious Geelong orphanage.

Former ward of the state, John, not his real name, is suing the congregation alleging he was subject to vile abuse at the hands of Brother James Carey at St Augustine’s Boys’ Home in Highton in the early 1970s.

Carey, who was the home’s superior, died having never faced criminal charges.

In a statement of claim filed to the Supreme Court, John alleges the Christian Brothers were aware of widespread sexual abuse at the home but failed to take action against Carey or other pedophiles.

He claims there was a culture of abuse at the boys’ home, which a Royal Commission found had the sixth-most reports of child sexual abuse of all Catholic institutions in Australia.

Now in his 60s, John was aged 13 when he was allegedly abused by Carey over a nine-month period.

He told the Herald Sun not a day would go by where he did not think about it.

“It’s just stuck in my mind. I just couldn’t function anymore,” he said.

“I used to go to church every Sunday but the church and priests, I just can’t stand them anymore.”

John said he carried a burden of shame and had never told his family about what had happened to him.

But he said he came forward after a friend who had also been abused encouraged him.

“God knows how many more kids have gone through the whole thing,” he said.

He added recognition of his trauma and exposing his abuser was more important than compensation.

“When people go through stuff like that, it’s very hard for them to go through and approach somebody to talk to somebody about it,” he said.

He is also suing the State of Victoria alleging it failed to conduct due diligence prior to allowing boys to stay at the home, or conduct regular welfare checks.

Arnold Thomas and Becker lawyer Cameron Doig, who is representing John, said children should never have been placed in institutions like St Augustine’s.

“Nearly a quarter of Christian Brothers were alleged to have perpetrated child sexual abuse,” he said.

“James Luke Carey, the Superior of St Augustine’s with power over its staff and child residents, was himself a prolific abuser of children. His victims included our client.

“This has left our client with a painful legacy of trauma, substance abuse, fractured work history and broken relationships.”
Mr Doig said he encouraged anyone with information about Carey or who were abused themselves to come forward.

Christian Brothers Oceania Province said it did not comment on civil matters which were subject to ongoing proceedings but it encouraged anyone who experienced abuse or had evidence of criminal conduct to contact police and the National Redress Scheme.

“The Christian Brothers continue to openly acknowledge that some children have been harmed at our facilities and we reiterate our apology to them for what occurred and the impact of that,” it said in a statement.

A Victorian government spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with all survivors of institutional child abuse. It is inappropriate for us to comment on matters before the courts.”