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, see the Board of Inquiry’s website.
How we’re continuing to learn from the past
We know that we need to keep learning from the past, and our mistakes, to make sure that our current approach is right.
In line with the Board’s recommendations, we will continue to learn through:
- the independent Forum for Truth and Recognition where victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools can share their experiences and contribute to the public record
- a restorative engagement process where victim-survivors can connect with a senior leader from the department to receive a personal acknowledgement and apology
- the systemic review of historical child sexual abuse, based on civil claim records to understand where sexual abuse happened, who has been impacted and lessons that can be learned
- disclosures and information from former students who contact the department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team.
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, see How are children being protected today.
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