Lawyers say the full extent of child sexual abuse, including specific cases in the Hunter, will shock the nation when details are exposed at a Royal Commission.
Public hearings start in Sydney today looking at institutions such as Scouts Australia and Hunter Aboriginal Children's Services and what they knew about the activities of convicted paedophile, Steven Larkins.
Support Advocate, Leonie Sheedy says the public needs to hear the truth about what went on.
"The spot light is going to be on the sexual usage and brutally that was handed out to children in orphanages and children's homes," said Ms Sheedy.
She said the Australian public will be "totally shocked"
"They have no idea the level of criminality and the brutality that was committed on children who had no one to turn to," said Ms Sheedy.
