Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes

This page provides factual information for people who attended Red Bend Catholic College in Forbes, NSW, or one of the schools that came before it. It is intended to help former students, boarders, and their families understand the school’s history and the support and legal options available.

This page does not make findings or allegations against Red Bend Catholic College or any related institution. It provides general information to help former students understand their options.

Red Bend Catholic College and its predecessor schools

Red Bend Catholic College was formed in February 1977, when three Catholic secondary schools combined into one co-educational college:

• Marist Brothers’ College, Forbes
• Our Lady of Mercy College, Forbes
• Our Lady of Mercy High School, Parkes.

The college occupies the former Marist Brothers’ College site on the Lachlan River. If you attended school in Forbes or Parkes before 1977, your experience may relate to one of these earlier schools rather than to Red Bend Catholic College under its current name.

Marist Brothers’ College, Forbes

The Marist Brothers began teaching in Forbes in 1926. The school took its first boarders in 1930, when it became Marist Brothers’ College, and by 1939 it had 166 students, 46 of them boarders. The college moved to the Red Bend site in 1956.

Boarding at Red Bend

Boarding has been part of school life at Red Bend for most of its history, particularly for students from rural and remote communities. The college continues to offer boarding today.

For many boarders, the school was not only where they studied but where they lived, often for extended periods away from family. In law, schools that board children owe them a duty of care that reflects the degree of control they have over the children’s daily lives.

Revisiting your experiences later in life

For people who grew up in regional communities, disclosure can be especially hard. Communities are small, and the sense that everyone knows everyone can make speaking up feel impossible.

Many people only begin to question or make sense of their experiences decades later. If your experience relates to time at Red Bend or one of its predecessor schools, whether as a day student or a boarder, you are not alone in revisiting these questions now.

Your options today

For most survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, a civil compensation claim is the pathway we recommend. Compensation is assessed on the actual harm you have suffered, including to your health, relationships, career, and quality of life, and it is not capped. Virtually all claims settle before a hearing, and confidentiality is standard.

NSW has removed time limits for civil child sexual abuse claims, so in most cases it is not too late to act, although individual circumstances still matter. Read more about limitation periods for historical institutional abuse claims.

Catholic institutions in the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes participate in the National Redress Scheme through Australian Catholic Redress Limited, and the Marist Brothers participate separately. The Scheme may suit some people where a civil claim isn’t viable, but payments are capped at $150,000, a figure rarely reached in practice, and many payments are significantly lower. Accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim. Applications close on 30 June 2027, so we strongly recommend independent legal advice before applying.

For more on choosing between a civil claim and the Scheme, see our institutional abuse lawyer page.

Taking the next step

If reading this page has brought up memories or questions about your time at Red Bend, confidential advice is available. Koffels Solicitors & Barristers provides private, trauma-informed advice to survivors across Australia. There is no obligation to proceed, and many people simply want clarity about their options.

Call us on 02 9283 5599, email info@koffels.com.au, or use the confidential form below.

Frequently asked questions