Content warning: This page contains information relating to child sexual abuse, which may cause distress.
Further support for survivors of past abuse, violence or childhood trauma is available.
- Find and Connect Support Services (free call 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday) 1800 161 109
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- CASA (Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault) and Sexual Assault Crisis Line (free call 5pm - 9am, Monday to Friday and weekends) 1800 806 292
Background
In 2024, the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools (Beaumaris Board of Inquiry) made nine recommendations to government. This included undertaking a Systemic review of historical child sexual abuse matters and establishing the Forum for Truth and Recognition.
The Systemic Review, oversaw by Independent Monitor Julia Griffith PSM, details the historical failures of the education system to protect children, based on analysis of 483 civil claims of historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.
The Forum for Truth and Recognition report, led by Chair Angela Connors, provides an independent public record of victim-survivors' experiences of child sexual abuse in Victorian schools, describing the enduring impacts these failures have had on victim-survivors.
The Systemic Review and the Forum for Truth and Recognition reports will inform the Premier’s formal apology to victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in government schools in July 2026.
Reports
Victorian Government Response
The Victorian Government has carefully reviewed the patterns and trends by the Systemic Review and the Forum and remains dedicated to continuously building a culture of child safety across all Victorian schools, reviewing our governance, systems, processes and guidance continuously.
In response to the two reports, the Victorian Government is taking the following actions:
Delivering the statewide public apology to victim survivors
Tabling the Forum’s report in parliament
Reviewing law reform options to protect the privacy of victim-survivors when engaging with formal Inquiries
Continued commitment to embedding child safety into institutional leadership, governance and school culture
Strengthening school regulators
Ongoing reforms and initiatives to support victim-survivors:
the Restorative Engagement Program
a dedicated website and phone line for victim-survivors
recent policies and guidance for schools responding to historical sexual abuse
a dedicated website about how victim-survivors can obtain information about searching, requesting and locating school records.
The Victorian Government acknowledges the strength and courage of all victim-survivors, including those who shared their experiences with the Forum and those who brought civil claims or reported their experience. We remain dedicated to building a culture of child safety across all Victorian schools.
Read the Victorian Government’s response to the Systemic Review and Forum reports.
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