NSW inquiry urges ban on new student enrollment for Redeemer Baptist School

A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry has recommended that Redeemer Baptist School, a private religious institution in western Sydney, be prohibited from enrolling new students. The report, which was tabled in state parliament on Tuesday, outlines findings from an investigation into allegations of sexual, physical, psychological, spiritual, and financial abuse at the school.

The committee heard testimony from former students and teachers who described a series of disturbing incidents. These accounts included claims that students were required to share beds with teachers and that the school principal was once seen wandering naked through a common area. Based on this evidence, the committee concluded that the school, which is operated by the Redeemer Baptist Church, failed to meet basic child safeguarding standards and placed children at significant risk of harm.

The inquiry also identified systemic issues within the school’s administration. It found that staff members lacked essential workplace rights and that the institution failed to satisfy basic standards of good governance. The committee specifically noted that allegations of sexual assault were not handled appropriately by the school’s leadership.

In addition to the enrollment ban, the committee recommended that the NSW Education Standards Authority continue its investigation of the school. It further suggested that NSW police and the office of the children’s guardian should investigate the specific allegations raised during the inquiry. The aim is to ensure that all claims of misconduct are thoroughly examined by the relevant authorities.

Abigail Boyd, the Greens MP who chairs the committee, highlighted that the school had previously been subjected to parliamentary scrutiny in 2006. She observed that no procedures were put in place at that time to monitor what was clearly a high-risk situation. Boyd credited the bravery of those who spoke out, stating that their testimony provided the committee with sufficient evidence to make its strong findings.

Boyd also pointed out the significant financial resources available to the school. She noted that the institution received approximately $6 million per year in government funding. This wealth, she argued, allowed the school to launch legal challenges against those who raised concerns about the religious group. Boyd also mentioned that the school has deep political ties with both state and federal politicians.

The committee chair described the fear experienced by those who had left the school. She stated that individuals who escaped often had no financial assets and were terrified of their abusers. Boyd explained that this fear is understandable when leaving means starting with nothing and facing the people who were alleged to have caused the harm.

The report criticized a lack of regulatory oversight, including from the education authority. It suggested that several alarming matters required proper investigation, including allegations of persistent Centrelink fraud and questionable tax practices. The committee found it troubling that an asset-rich and seemingly prosperous school operated by withholding wages from its workforce, who then claimed benefits, while receiving millions of dollars in public funding.

A spokesperson for Redeemer Baptist School previously stated that the school had fully cooperated with relevant regulators. The spokesperson emphasized that the school takes its child safety obligations extremely seriously and claimed an unblemished record of compliance with state and federal regulators for 45 years. Following the release of the report, the school did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.