Systemic Review into Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian Government Schools

About the Systemic Review into Historical Child Sexual Abuse

The Department of Education has completed the Systemic Review into Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian Government Schools.

The review analysed civil claims of child sexual abuse by staff that occurred before the year 2000.

The report details sobering and deeply distressing patterns of abuse and past failures to detect, prevent or respond to abuse.

The department is committed to acknowledging and learning from the past. Child sexual abuse can have a devastating and lasting impact on victim-survivors, their loved ones and broader communities. It is important to understand the past so that we can better protect students today and into the future. This report will be used to inform child safety protections in Victoria government schools.

An Independent Monitor oversaw the department’s review.

The Independent Monitor

The Minister for Education appointed Ms Julia Griffith PSM as Independent Monitor to oversee the Systemic Review.

• Ministerial Order 1458 (PDF, 142KB) – Appointment of an Independent Monitor for the Department of Education’s systemic review into historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools

The Independent Monitor’s role was to independently review, monitor and assess the department’s performance of the Systemic Review. This included ensuring that the department met the Terms of Reference.

• Systemic Review Terms of Reference (DOCX, 55KB)

Ms Griffith has endorsed the Systemic Review report.

“While no review can undo the harm that was caused, the establishment of a public record of what occurred is an important step towards accountability and transparency. The approach the department has taken to the Systemic Review reflects that responsibility.” – Independent Monitor, Julia Griffith

A note on language

We understand that words are powerful and can mean different things to different people. In this report, we have simplified the language used to describe victims and perpetrators.

A victim-survivor is a person who has experienced child sexual abuse. A victim-survivor may be living or no longer living.

An alleged perpetrator is an employee identified as having committed abuse. An alleged perpetrator may or may not be convicted.

Historical child sexual abuse refers to abuse that occurred before the year 2000. The term historical is intended to refer to the act of abuse, not the impact of abuse which we acknowledge can be long lasting, and for many, life long.

Report findings

The department reviewed 483 civil claims of historical child sexual abuse by staff members, and made the following observations.

The following information relates to distressing details about patterns of historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.

Observations about Victorian government schools

• Historical child sexual abuse occurred in 403 Victorian government schools (based on schools named in redress applications and civil claims). This is an estimated 15 per cent of government schools in operation between 1950 and 1999.
• The 201 schools named in a civil claim are listed in Appendix 2 of the report.
• Children in ‘special schools’ (as they were then known) were more likely to experience child sexual abuse than children in mainstream schools. Historically, special schools included
  • schools for children with disabilities and
  • schools in detention facilities, state homes, orphanages and hospitals.

Observations about victim-survivors

• The majority of victim-survivors were male. Most were 12 years old or younger when they were abused.
• On average, victim-survivors took 42 years to make a civil claim against the department.

Observations about alleged perpetrators

• Most alleged perpetrators were male.
• Alleged perpetrators held a range of roles in schools. Most were classroom teachers.
• 23 per cent of alleged perpetrators were principals or vice-principals.
• 3.5 per cent of alleged perpetrators were dismissed due to allegations of child sexual abuse. The majority of alleged perpetrators resigned or retired.
• A third of alleged perpetrators are named in multiple civil claims.
• The report includes case studies of the 6 most prolific perpetrators who were not subject to the Board of Inquiry. These perpetrators are:
  • Reginald Adrian Crick
  • Robert Morris
  • Timothy Richardson
  • Perpetrator A
  • Perpetrator B
  • Perpetrator C

Pseudonyms are applied to perpetrators who are still living so as not to prejudice criminal proceedings.

Other observations

The Systemic Review’s observations aligned with key findings made by the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools.

Common themes included:

• A lack of awareness of behaviours now understood to be grooming or pose a high-risk to children. For example, sleepovers at a teacher’s home.
• A lack of records to explain why a teacher was transferred to another school.
• Disbelief of child sexual abuse allegations by school staff at the time.
• Inconsistent responses to child sexual abuse allegations by school staff at the time.
• Inadequate record-keeping practices, including:
  • an absence of records about child sexual abuse allegations made at the time (where victim-survivors recalled disclosures being made to school staff)
  • poor information-sharing processes (within the government school system and with external agencies, such as Victoria Police).
• Overreliance on police investigating child sexual abuse allegations. If police did not lay charges, the department often took no further action.

Forum for Truth and Recognition

The Victorian Government also established the Forum for Truth and Recognition. The Forum provided a safe and respectful way for victim-survivors to share experiences of historical child sexual abuse in government schools. The Forum delivered a report to the Premier on 29 May 2026.

Government response

The Victorian Government has responded to the Systemic Review and the Forum for Truth and Recognition.

Next steps

Parliamentary Apology

On Thursday 30 July 2026, the Victorian Government will formally apologise in Parliament to victims and survivors who experienced historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.

The apology will be informed by the Systemic Review, the Forum and consultation with victim-survivors.

For more information on the apology, including places where you can view a live broadcast, visit Parliamentary Apology.