The Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious organisation that is broken up into Provinces. Unfortunately, the Christian Brothers have been responsible for centuries of institutional abuse.
The Christian Brothers operated schools all over Australia where they allowed some of the worst paedophiles to have unfettered access to children. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that the Christian Brothers Leadership was aware of numerous offending Brothers. They not only continued to allow them access to children, but promoted them to positions of power and authority.
The Christian Brothers have harboured some of Australia’s worst paedophiles and are responsible for countless broken lives.
If you or someone that you know have been impacted by the Christian Brothers and would like to discuss your legal options in a supportive and comfortable environment, then please contact Stacks Goudkamp. If you settled your civil case against the Christian Brothers prior to the Royal Commission or through Towards Healing and you would like to look at your options about re-opening your case, the please do not hesitate to contact us.
Institutions founded, run, or staffed by the Christian Brothers
ACT
- St Edmunds College, Canberra ACT.
New South Wales
- Aquinas College, Albury NSW (now Xavier High School).
- Christian Brothers School, Balmain NSW.
- Christian Brothers, Burwood NSW. (Closed 2009).
- Christian Brothers College, Many NSW (Now St Pauls College, Manly).
- Christian Brothers College, Rose Bay NSW (Now McAuley Catholic Primary School).
- Christian Brothers College, Tamworth NSW (Now McCarthy Catholic College).
- Christian Brothers High School, Lewisham NSW.
- Edmund Rice College, Wollongong NSW.
- St Charles Primary School, Waverly NSW (now closed).
- St Domonic’s College, Olbey Education Centre, Penrith NSW.
- St Edmunds School, Wahroonga NSW.
- St Edwards College, East Gosford NSW.
- St Gabriel’s School, Castle Hill NSW.
- St Joseph’s Primary School, Walgett NSW.
- St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney NSW.
- St Michael’s College, Wagga Wagga NSW (now Kildare Catholic College)
- St Patrick’s College, Strathfield NSW.
- St Pius X College, Chatswood NSW.
- St Patrick’s College, Goulburn NSW (now Trinity Catholic College, Goulburn).
- Waverly College, Waverly NSW
Victoria
- Aquinas College, Melbourne VIC.
- Cathedral College, East Melbourne VIC (closed).
- Chanel College, Geelong (closed).
- Damascus College, Ballarat VIC.
- Parade College, Bundoora VIC.
- St Augustine’s Orphanage and School, Whitington Geelong VIC
- St Bernard’s College, Essendon Melbourne VIC.
- St Joseph’s College, Geelong VIC.
- St Kevin’s College, Toorak VIC.
- St Mary’s College, Melbourne.
- St Patrick’s College, Ballarat.
- St Joseph’s Christian Brothers College, Warrnambool (closed 1991).
Western Australia
- Aquinas College, Salter Point WA.
- Aranmore Catholic College, Leederville WA.
- Castledare Boys Home, Wilson WA.
- Catholic Agricultural School, Bindoon WA.
- Chisholm Catholic College, Bedford WA.
- Christian Brothers Agricultural College, Tardun WA (closed).
- Christian Brother College, Albany WA.
- Christian Brothers College, Freemantle WA.
- Christian Brothers College, Highgate (closed).
- Christian Brothers College, Kalgoorlie WA (became St John Paul College in 1984).
- Clontarf Aboriginal College, Waterford WA.
- St Patricks College, Geraldton WA (became Nagle Catholic College).
Christian Brother Abuser Spotlight
Brother William Standen, also known as Brother David Standen
Brother Standen has been convicted of sexually abusing boarding students at St Patrick’s College in Goulburn NSW. He took advantage of his position of boarding master and sexually assaulted numerous boarding children.
Brother Standen also worked at St Dominic’s College Penrith as Deputy Principal and St Mary’s Cathedral College as Principal between 2000 and 2010.
Brother Robert Best
Brother Best spent decades teaching across Victorian Catholic Schools and has been charged with multiple child sex offences. He was sentenced to 10 years and five months in jail after admitting to the sexual abuse of a further 20 boys in his care. Brothers Best’s earliest release date will be 2027 when he will be 86 years old. Brother Best taught at St Alipius in Ballarat, St Leo’s Box Hill, St Joseph’s Geelong and St Bernard’s Essendon.
Brother Edward Dowlan (now known as Mister Ted Bales)
Brother Dowlan is one of Australia’s most notorious paedophiles and has had his jail term extended until 2029 for abusing 19 boys more than three decades ago.
Brother Dowlan taught at a number of Christian Brothers Schools in Victoria and Tasmania, including St Alipius Primary School, St Patrick’s College Ballarat, Warrnambool Christian Brothers College, St Brendan’s Davenport, Parade College Preparatory School Alphington, Cathedral College East Melbourne, St Mary’s Technical College Geelong, St Vincent’s Orphanage South Melbourne and Geelong Catholic Regional College.
HOW CAN STACKS GOUDKAMP HELP
If you or a loved one are a survivor of institutional abuse, you may be entitled to compensation. A claim for compensation can provide you with the financial care and support needed to move forward with your life.
Stacks Goudkamp’s specialist institutional abuse team have the expert knowledge and expertise needed to obtain outstanding results in all types of abuse claims.
We will act for you on a no win, no fee basis. We will listen to you and understand how your injuries have affected your quality of life, daily activities, work and all aspects of your life. We are here to help and always offer our legal services with compassion and respect.
Written by Alessandra Pettit
Alessandra Pettit (Ali) is a specialist in historical institutional abuse law and practices exclusively in this area. She has acted for survivors from all walks of life and continues to get outstanding results for her clients. She is compassionate, thorough, professional and kind, always ensuring that her clients feel supported and confident throughout the legal process.
If you or a loved one are a survivor of institutional abuse, you may be entitled to compensation. For more information and to arrange a free, no-obligation conference with Ali, please call Stacks Goudkamp on (02) 8294 7711, or alternatively make an online enquiry
