Premier Allan said the government would establish a statewide truth-telling process for victim-survivors, similar to that of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which heard the historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria. Photo: Yoorrook Justice Commission.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced the government will accept all nine recommendations of a Board of Inquiry’s report, after it found the government had “woefully failed to protect children from the risk of child sexual abuse” in certain state schools between 1960 and 1994.
Halfway through last year, then-Premier Daniel Andrews said a Board of Inquiry would be established to examine historical child sexual abuse at Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools from the 1960s to the 1990s.
The announcement came after a group of “dedicated individuals” had over many years been advocating for such an inquiry to publicly acknowledge the experiences of victim-survivors and examine the past actions of the Victorian Department of Education.
Following multiple hearings covering 24 government schools identified by the Board of Inquiry, it found the Department had “woefully failed to protect children from the risk of child sexual abuse” and their “failings were serious and systemic, and put many children at risk”.
Today (19 June) Premier Jacinta Allan said the State Government would accept all nine recommendations of the inquiry, in full or in principle, with support from a $48.29 million investment.
“We failed to keep these children safe. We failed to listen when they spoke out. We failed to act to ensure that it did not happen again.
“As the board’s report put so plainly – it was a failure that was both serious and systemic.
“It was also a failure of morality. What else can it possibly be – when the reputation of the education system was given higher regard than the safety of its children.”
During the inquiry, it was heard that while the Beaumaris Primary School cluster of abuse was “particularly insidious, it was not isolated”.
As a result, the Victorian Government has decided to establish a statewide independent truth-telling process. This will create a public record of the experiences of victim-survivors of historical sexual abuse at all government schools prior to 2000.
The state will also undertake a review of how historical child sexual abuse matters were treated and responded to across the government school system over the same period, which will be overseen by an independent monitor.
Premier Allan said once both processes were completed in 2026, the Victorian Government would release a public record of the findings and deliver a formal apology in State Parliament after consulting with victim-survivors.
Along with this, the State Government will create a memorial designed with victim-survivors to acknowledge the historical child sexual abuse that occurred at Beaumaris Primary School.
Victim-survivors are set to receive improved information access, including support for seeking records, better record management and trauma-informed practices for staff responding to requests.
A dedicated website and telephone line will be created to provide information and assistance for victim-survivors, and options to amend legislation to ensure the enduring protection of personal information under the Inquiries Act 2014 will be looked at.
Premier Allan said an additional $17.6 million would go to strengthening child safety investigation teams, which had been subject to a range of significant reforms over the past decade following the Betrayal of Trust inquiry and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“Young, bright, beautiful children for whom school should have been a place of joy,” said Premier Allan. “Instead, for many, it became a place of horror and fear.
“Often, the impact was enduring. The ripple effect of abuse – impacting people’s health, mental health, life outcomes and relationships with loved ones. Impacting their belief in themselves and the world around them.
“Despite it all – they’ve shown the most incredible courage. A determination to protect others in a way that they weren’t.
“I also want to make clear: justice requires acknowledgement – but it also demands action. The work is not over – rather, this is just the next step towards healing.”
