Work practices contributing to ‘hidden’ child sexual abuses in mid-twentieth century child institutions: lessons for contemporary times

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2017) indicated the prevalence of sexual abuse of children in institutional settings, documenting the devastating effects of such abuse on victims, families and communities. This article reports on research that aimed to understand organisational practices and conditions within some New South Wales ‘state institutions’ in which child abuse occurred, during the period from the 1950 s to early 1970 s − the period that was the focus of the Commission's Inquiry into these institutions. Our article is derived from in-depth interviews with professional practitioners employed by the NSW Child Welfare Department during this time, to work with committed children. The subordinate position of these professionals placed them ‘in the middle’ − between institutional staff and children. The over-arching theme identified by interviewees was their concern that they must have worn ‘blinkers’ when working in the institutions in the mid-twentieth century. We elaborate on this theme in discussion of four sub-themes:1) A masculinist, authoritarian agenda operating to control both children and staff; 2)The shaping of ‘model citizens’ through relations of violence; 3) Subjugation of an alternative discourse; and 4) Mistrust between professionals and inmates. We consider our analysis has particular value in the questions it enables us to ask about contemporary child welfare and juvenile justice practices – our ultimate aim being to inform contemporary policies for preventing institutional child abuse.