Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian Government Schools

Acknowledging and learning from the past

The courage and advocacy of victim-survivors and their supporters have highlighted the department’s past failings in which students experienced child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.

Since the Betrayal of Trust report and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Victorian Government and the department have introduced significant reforms to protect the safety and wellbeing of children in schools today. These reforms include Victoria’s Child Safe Standards which require schools to have comprehensive policies, practices and procedures to prevent and appropriately respond to child sexual abuse, compulsory reporting of suspected child sexual abuse and reportable conduct by staff, improved information sharing tools, and robust screening of employment candidates.

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. This Board of Inquiry shed light on the importance of the department acknowledging the historical sexual abuse perpetrated in government schools and the deep and long lasting impact this abuse has had on former students, their family, friends, and loved ones.

On 17 November 2023, the Secretary of the Department of Education apologised to victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in all Victorian government schools, their loved ones and affected communities on behalf of the Department of Education. The apology can be read at: Statement from the Secretary. For further information on the government’s response to the Board of Inquiry, please refer to Victorian Government response to the Board of Inquiry.

The work to understand the failures of the past and respond to these is ongoing.

In response to recommendation 3 of the Board of Inquiry, the Victorian Government has established the Forum for Truth and Recognition. This is an opportunity for victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in all Victorian government schools to share their experiences in a safe and respectful space and contribute to a public record. A final report on this forum will be provided to the Victorian government in May 2026. Further information on the forum is available at: Forum for Truth and Recognition.

In parallel to the Forum for Truth and Recognition, the department is undertaking a systemic review based on civil claims records and other disclosures to examine patterns of offending and institutional failings. The systemic review will deliver a report in 2026, incorporating data and analysis, observations and lessons learnt about historical child sexual abuse in government schools regarding patterns of offending and failures to prevent, detect or respond to abuse.

For information on the work underway to implement these and all other recommendations of the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools, refer to Progress updates on the Board of Inquiry recommendations.

Victim-survivors can also contact the department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team (contact details below) to report their experiences and find information about supports that might be available to them. Reports about historical child sexual abuse can help the department understand the failures of the past, and help shape and inform current and future prevention and policy efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Restorative Engagement and Support team:

• Phone: 03 9057 4500
• Email: REST@education.vic.gov.au
• Webpage: Victim-survivor support for former students