No charges over abuse at NSW institutions

No criminal charges were ever laid against 11 men who allegedly raped and bashed girls in two NSW-run institutions, a federal inquiry says.

In a report to the federal government on Monday, the royal commission into child sexual abuse names the men who allegedly perpetrated repeated acts of brutality against children in the 1960s and 70s at the notorious Parramatta Girls Training School and Hay Institution.

Eight of the alleged abusers are now dead, but three - Noel Greenway, Ronald Ward and Frank Valentine - are still living, the report says.

"However, our inquiries suggest that not one of these men was ever charged with a criminal offence."

Ward and Valentine, former deputy superintendents at Parramatta, were legally represented at the commission's public hearing in February, while former superintendent Greenway has since appointed a lawyer.

None provided a statement or gave evidence at the hearing.

In its report, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse says some of the alleged perpetrators were never reported or investigated. Others resigned or were dismissed after inquiries into their conduct.

The report names five superintendents and five deputy-superintendents at Parramatta and an acting manager at Hay - a maximum-security annex to Parramatta Girls.

The report also says its investigation into Parramatta and Hay "highlights the particular vulnerability of children to sexual abuse while in the care of the State".

At the public hearing, 16 former inmates of the homes gave evidence of being raped, bashed and put in isolated detention for lengthy periods of time when they were children.

Girls as young as eight were placed in the Parramatta school. The school and Hay were closed in 1974 following public outcry.

The commission says it could not find any evidence that action was ever taken against Greenway who allegedly sexually abused girls at Parramatta in the 60s and at another training school to which he was transferred.

Valentine was given a formal warning in 1973 and then transferred to another training school.

During the public hearing, Valentine's counsel questioned two witnesses, suggesting they were confusing his client with another officer.

The commission reports it could not find documents to indicate Ward "was ever reported, disciplined or charged" relating to child abuse.

The report quotes one witness, Coral Campbell, who alleged Ward had her locked in isolation for 24 hours when she got her first period while he was assaulting her.

The report outlines the devastating and long-term consequences for education, employment health and family.

"Many women still live in fear with traumatic flashbacks, and feel as though the pain will never go away."

It says: "The state (NSW) has no scheme to provide redress to those who were abused or neglected in its care, although it is now reportedly considering its options".

At the end of October, following another damning hearing into how NSW handled child abuse allegations at a home in Brewarrina in remote NSW, the state government announced it would make it easier for abuse victims to seek redress.