Response to Royal Commission Findings

 

Satyananda Ashram, the organisation formerly responsible for the management of Mangrove Yoga, welcomes the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse relating to episodes of sexual and physical abuse that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. We apologise without reservation for the appalling acts of abuse committed during this period.

 

Mangrove Yoga is committed to fully addressing each of the findings in the Royal Commission’s report, and has already implemented a number of changes to the organisation. These include:

 

• Following the requirements of a ‘Child Safe Organisation’, as determined by the Office of Children’s Guardian, to ensure the policies and procedures we have in place continue to be at best practice.

• Working with children checks are a fundamental part of on boarding of new members, residents and teachers.

• Fully updated policies regarding maintaining a child safe environment, including staff training. This includes engaging Bravehearts, the highly-respected organisation, to conduct child protection training for residents, directors and members.

• New organisational structure, including independent members, that moves away from a centralised management structure.

• A ‘visiting’ committee of independent, third party experts is being established to ensure we have appropriately qualified professionals who are removed from the operations and activities of the ashram bringing appropriately skilled and qualified advice.

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We are resolutely committed to ensuring that this episode in our history can never ever be repeated. We are dedicated to continuing to improve the governance of our organisation and to implement the most robust policies and procedures to ensure we can live up to this promise.

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