The Royal commission into child abuse will shift its focus to Canberra next month, with a public hearing into the response of Marist Brothers to claims of abuse dating back to the 1970s.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will examine the response of Marist Brothers to allegations of child sexual abuse in schools in the ACT, New South Wales and Queensland.

A string of allegations relate to Marist and Daramalan colleges in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

Brother John Chute, also known as Brother Kostka, was jailed in 2008 after pleading guilty to several counts of abuse.

The Royal commission will examine the response of Marist Brothers to the claims against Brother Kostka and another member of the order.

The public hearing will also examine compensation settlements and the response of agencies including the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.

Chief executive of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council Francis Sullivan says the hearings will be a forensic and necessary examination of the Church's and the school's past actions.

"The history of the Catholic Church in the area of child sex abuse is confronting and shameful," he said.

"This is another occasion where people who have been abused need the opportunity to have a public hearing so that the Marist Brothers can explain how they handled and mishandled the situations."

Mr Sullivan says the handling of child sex abuse claims uncovered so far by the Royal commission has been shameful.

"A lot of people in the community are shocked, Catholics are shocked and the handling has been something that is a shame on the church," he said.

"They put the interests of the church in front of the interests of the victims. It was a classic example of where the institution looks after itself, is worried about scandal, is worried about public shame."

The hearing will get underway on June 10.