St Catherine’s Girl’s Orphanage

St Catherine’s Girl’s Orphanage was established by the Sisters of Mercy at Newtown, Geelong in 1862 and was originally known as Our Lady’s Orphanage. Prior to this time, the Sisters had provided care to the girls at St Augustine’s Orphanage. St Catherine’s relocated to Highton in 1928, changing its name to St Catherine’s Children’s Home where it remained until its closure in 1975. The Sisters in 1975 relocated to another site in North Geelong and established their new service, Mercy Family Care. In 1997, Mercy Family Care was amalgamated with MacKillop Family Services.

Allegations of sexual and physical abuse at St Catherine’s have been made against the Sisters of Mercy. Many testimonies were provided in 2004 through the Commonwealth Community Affairs References Committee report, “Forgotten Australians” and in 2013 to the Victorian “Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations” where many victims described being punished and abused in very demeaning and humiliating ways whilst they were placed at St Catherine’s.

Moody Law has in the past represented clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse when they were placed in a home or orphanage in the state of Victoria.

We invite former victims and witnesses to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.