The Department of Education is aware of tragic failings where students were sexually abused in Victorian government schools.
We know that in some cases, reports of sexual abuse were ignored, dismissed or poorly handled. This meant that children were not kept safe. Those who experienced harm were not given the support they needed.
This harm has had a deep and lasting impact on former students, their families and communities.
We need to understand the past so that we can ensure a safer future. We are committed to truth-telling, to acknowledging the courage of those who have come forward, and to creating spaces where more people can share their experiences.
Board of Inquiry
In June 2023, the Victorian Government established a Board of Inquiry to investigate historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools.
The Board identified systemic failures that had enabled child sexual abuse at those schools including:
- lack of policies, procedures, guidance and training on identifying, responding to and preventing child abuse
- a practice of prioritising teacher and departmental reputations over protecting children
- poor record keeping and information sharing around child abuse.
There have been big changes to strengthen child safety since the period of time that the Board examined.
The Board recommended reforms to support healing for victim-survivors, their loved ones and affected communities.
The Victorian Government accepted all of the Board’s 9 recommendations.
For more information, go to Victorian Government response to the Board of Inquiry.
How we’re continuing to learn from the past
We know we must keep learning from the past and from our mistakes so we can respond better today.
In line with the Board’s recommendations, we will continue to learn through:
- the Forum for Truth and Recognition: an independent public record of people’s experiences of child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools and certain non-government schools before the year 2000 – view the Forum for Truth and Recognition report
- the Systemic Review into Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian Government Schools: the Department of Education has reviewed hundreds of civil claims relating to historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools between 1950 and 1999 to understand where sexual abuse happened, who has been impacted and lessons that can be learned – view the Systemic Review report
- disclosures and information from former students who contact the department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team
- restorative engagement processes where victim-survivors can connect with a senior leader from the department to receive a personal acknowledgement and apology.
Parliamentary Apology to victims and survivors
The Hon. Ben Carroll, Premier of Victoria, made a formal apology to victims and survivors who experienced child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.
The apology was held at Parliament House on 30 July 2026, with victim-survivors, families and loved ones in attendance.
The apology acknowledges the harm experienced by victims and survivors, their families, loved ones, supporters and affected school communities. It recognises the failures that allowed abuse to occur, and the lasting impacts this has had on former students, their families and communities.
To read the apology in full and watch a recording of the apology, go to the Parliamentary Apology webpage.
Our commitment
We cannot undo the harm of the past. But we are committed to fully acknowledging past failures in our schools and learning from them, to improve support for former students, and to protect students now and into the future.
For more information, go to how children are being protected today.
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