• Australia's Catholic dioceses have agreed to provide an entity for victims to sue over sex abuse claims
• In Ballarat, current bishop Paul Bird has volunteered to put himself forward as a defendant
• Bishop Bird's stance means victims can now sue the diocese

Dr Vivian Waller is representing victims who were abused during the reign of Bishop O'Collins, who died in 1983.

"It helps level up the playing field," she said.

"Traditionally, Catholic defendants engaged in out-of-court processes have always had the upper hand, because of the extreme difficulties faced by sexual abuse survivors in getting their matters to court.

"The consequence of Bishop Bird taking this position is that a number of people have been able to issue proceedings, and hopefully that means that the process will be a fairer one."