Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian Government Schools

Requests for memorials or other physical forms of acknowledgement

The following guidance supports schools to respond to requests from a victim-survivor, loved one or supporter, for a memorial or other physical forms of acknowledgement relating to child sexual abuse by an adult working in a Victorian government school. Some examples might include an installation, artwork, tree planting, seat/bench, removal of a perpetrator’s photos from around the school or their name from school honour boards or buildings.

Schools that receive questions or requests for memorials or other physical forms of acknowledgement relating to child sexual abuse by an adult working in a Victorian government school must contact the department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team for support:

• Phone: 03 9057 4500
• Email: REST@education.vic.gov.au

The Restorative Engagement and Support team will support school leadership and the victim-survivor or other impacted persons throughout the process.

About memorials

Memorials and other physical forms of acknowledgement, are one way of acknowledging and commemorating lived experiences. They are a visible response that can support healing for victim-survivors, their loved ones, and affected communities and support their journey forward. They can also serve as an important symbol of accountability and a collective commitment to truth, and as a commitment to the protection of current and future students.

A memorial or installation can be more than a visual expression – it can also be a place for ceremony (conversations or events) and a prompt for engagement and participation by the community. Considering the location of the memorial within a school, bearing in mind these factors, is also important.

The department acknowledges that for some, the term memorial may not be the right word. Any process of working with victim-survivors, their loved ones or supporters in relation to a memorial (as described in this guidance) will include consultation on language and terms that are right for them.

Purpose of memorials and other physical forms of acknowledgement

Former students who have experienced child sexual abuse by a person working in a Victorian government school (or their loved ones or supporters) may request a memorial or other physical form of acknowledgement for a number of reasons, including for:

• recognition or acknowledgment of past harm
• engagement, education and prevention, for current and future generations of children
• honouring victim-survivors and their loved ones
• providing a place or symbol of hope and reflection.

The department respects the diverse ways victim-survivors, their loved ones or supporters, may wish to be heard, acknowledged and remembered.

Types of memorials

The department takes a broad view of what might constitute a memorial. There should never be a one-size-fits-all approach and engagement with victim-survivors, their loved ones and supporters is essential to ensure the memorial is meaningful to them. The planning process, location and final design of a memorial in a Victorian government school must also take into account the advice and considerations outlined in this guidance.

Current examples of memorials in schools include reflective gardens, plaques, tree plantings, ribbons on fences as part of the LOUD fence movement, artworks and other installations or expressions.

Support from the Restorative Engagement and Support team

The department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team is responsible for supporting schools with questions and requests from victim-survivors of child sexual abuse by an adult working in a Victorian government school.

When schools receive questions or requests for memorials or other forms of acknowledgement relating to child sexual abuse, they must contact the Restorative Engagement and Support team for support.

The Restorative Engagement and Support team will:

• work with the school to ensure any initial and ongoing engagement in relation to a request is trauma-informed, responsive, inclusive and safe
• evaluate the request against the considerations outlined in this guidance to determine if the memorial can be supported
• support the school to communicate the outcome of this evaluation
• support the school throughout the process of planning and establishing the memorial, ensuring appropriate and safe engagement with the victim-survivor, loved ones, supporters, and consultation with the school community
• provide any relevant information or records that can support school staff to understand the history of sexual abuse at their school.

The Restorative Engagement and Support team will support school leadership and the victim-survivor or other impacted persons throughout the process of considering, planning and establishing a memorial at the school.

Initial response to a request for a memorial or other physical forms of acknowledgement

If former students, their loved ones or supporters contact the school with questions or requests relating to a memorial acknowledging child sexual abuse, it is important for school staff to:

• respond with empathy, respect, and without judgement
• thank the survivor for their courage in coming forward
• explain that they will contact the team in the department that supports schools with requests for a memorial relating to child sexual abuse by an adult working in that school, and ask for the person’s contact details and preferred time and mode of contact
• contact the Restorative Engagement and Support team for further support.

If the request is received by the school in writing, the principal must contact the Restorative Engagement and Support team for support in responding.

Considering requests for memorials

After receiving a request for a memorial or other physical form of acknowledgement, the department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team will work with school leadership and the relevant regional director to consider whether the request for a memorial on school grounds can be supported.

The relevant regional director has ultimate responsibility for approving commencement of a process to establish a memorial or other physical form of acknowledgement, based on advice from the Restorative Engagement and Support team and after consultation with the school leadership and school council.

Approval will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will depend on a range of circumstances including:

• the location, form and purpose of the memorial or other form of physical acknowledgement being requested
• the person making the request – generally the department will only be able to support requests made by or on behalf of former students who report that they are a victim-survivor of child sexual assault by an adult working in a Victorian government school, or requests from an immediate family member if the former student is deceased
• any known views of other victim-survivors who are former students of the school
• the views of school leadership and school council
• any known or anticipated impact on current or former school community members
• any other factors relevant to the school or their current or former community.

Concerns about the current reputation or standing of the school will not be a factor in considering requests for memorials on school grounds.

To support decision-making relating to a request for a memorial the department may also consider:

• department enrolment, employment, and disciplinary records, and any other records that might be relevant to the request
• any known charges, convictions or other allegations relating to the alleged perpetrator.

Support for a memorial may need to be reconsidered during the course of the planning and establishment process, depending on any new information or factors, including the health, safety or wellbeing of any participants or impacted community members or others.

Engagement with victim-survivors, their loved ones or supporters

The department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team will work with the school to ensure:

• victim-survivor voice is central to the planning process and final form of any memorial or other physical form of acknowledgement
• victim-survivors have choice about how they wish to participate and their level of engagement
• victim-survivors and/or loved ones have access to counselling and support during the engagement
• sufficient time is allowed for meaningful engagement, recognising that this may involve multiple steps, pauses, and ongoing check-ins with the person requesting the memorial
• any engagement is safe for all including victim-survivors, their supporters, students, school staff and members of the school community.

Where it is likely or known that there are other former students who are victim-survivors of child sexual abuse by the same or another adult who worked at the school, the Restorative Engagement and Support team will work with the school and with the person requesting the memorial, to consider ways to safely promote awareness of and invite their participation in the memorial process.

Consultation with school community

The Restorative Engagement and Support team will provide tailored advice to schools on the type and extent of consultation required for the broader school community.

The approach to consultation will depend on various factors, including:

• the needs of victim-survivors and/or their loved ones
• the purpose, form and location of the memorial
• the impact of the memorial on both the school and wider community.

Key considerations for planning the location and final form of a memorial

This section outlines some key considerations when planning for a memorial but is not an exhaustive list. The Restorative Engagement and Support team will work with individual schools, and where appropriate, directly with victim-survivors, to identify other considerations unique to the request or to their school environment that may affect the planning process, form and location of a memorial.

Following the planning process, approval for the final form of a memorial or other physical form of acknowledgement is the responsibility of the regional director, on advice from the Restorative Engagement and Support team, and considering the views of all persons involved in the process.

Child safety and wellbeing

Student safety and wellbeing must remain central when considering a memorial on school grounds both in relation to the location and form of the memorial as well as the process used in the planning for and communication about the memorial.

Where applicable, the department’s Restorative Engagement and Support team will support schools to:

• consider sensitive, age-appropriate words or signage that might be part of the memorial or physical form of acknowledgement
• provide age-appropriate communication and education to help students understand the memorial's purpose in a safe and sensitive way
• ensure staff are supported with clear guidance to respond to student questions or emotional responses appropriately
• engage with parents and carers to ensure the school community understands the intent of the memorial and how it aligns with the school’s commitment to child safety for current and future generations
• ensure information about the memorial is culturally appropriate, considering local sensitivities, and is inclusive
• ensure the location and form of the memorial avoids any physical or psychological risk of harm to students.

Staff safety and wellbeing

The department and schools have responsibilities under occupational health and safety legislation to provide and maintain an environment that is safe and without risks to the health and wellbeing of staff.

The Restorative Engagement and Support team will work with the school to ensure that the needs of victim-survivors are thoughtfully balanced with any particular sensitivities in the staff community, including consideration of potential impacts a memorial may have on staff health and wellbeing.

Access

Victorian government schools are not public places and there is no general right for the public to enter school grounds at any time. If a memorial is intended to be accessible to the public (for example, as a reflective space for survivors and others) the Restorative Engagement and Support team will work with the school to consider whether this request can be supported balanced with the other considerations in this guidance including child safety.

Ongoing maintenance

When planning a memorial, it is essential to consider and plan for the long-term care and maintenance of the memorial. A poorly maintained or neglected memorial can unintentionally cause distress or signal a lack of care for the people it seeks to honour. For this reason, the feasibility of maintaining a memorial over time is an important element of the initial planning and decision-making process.

The Restorative Engagement and Support team will work with the school and the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) to identify any maintenance needs and responsibilities and ensure these are considered when working with a victim-survivor, loved one or supporter on the final form and location of a memorial.

Initial and ongoing costs

Investing in quality design, materials, and ongoing maintenance helps ensure a memorial is both meaningful and enduring. At the same time, the costs must be reasonable and proportionate, recognising the need to balance sensitivity and respect for victim-survivors and their loved ones, with responsible use of school and department resources and public money.

Funding

Schools are not responsible for funding individual memorials. The Restorative Engagement and Support team will work with the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) and seek its approval to fund reasonable costs associated with individual memorials. The funding source and allocation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Support for impacted staff and communities

Some members of the school community may have complex feelings or concerns about the introduction of a memorial.

The Restorative Engagement and Support team can support schools by drafting bespoke communications to school staff, school councils and the wider school community about the purpose of the memorial, the consultative process and any other relevant information. The team will also work with the school to identify any wellbeing supports appropriate to the needs of staff, students and impacted communities.

Confidentiality and record keeping

Information relating to a request for a memorial is typically highly sensitive and schools should manage any records relating to these requests with strict confidentiality, sharing information only on a need to know basis or otherwise with consent of the individual.

Records of receiving and responding to requests must be stored together in a secure location that restricts access to only those staff that are managing the memorial process. For example, hardcopy records must be stored in a locked location, digital records, such as emails, must be removed from shared email inboxes and stored in a secure folder.

Contact for further information or support

Schools can contact the Restorative Engagement and Support team with questions or requests for support on:

• Phone: 03 9057 4500
• Email: REST@education.vic.gov.au