The State Government will establish a Board of Inquiry into Historical Child Sexual Abuse at Beaumaris Primary School in the 1960s and 1970s, and abuse by the same employees at other government schools.
Following the Commonwealth Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in government schools – particularly at Beaumaris Primary School – have advocated for a forum to tell their stories.
The Board of Inquiry – which is independent of government – will establish an official public record of the experiences of victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse by staff at Beaumaris Primary School more than five decades ago, as well as abuse perpetrated by the same staff members at other government schools.
The Inquiry will report on:
• The response of the Department of Education during the 1960s and 1970s in relation to the historical child sexual abuse at Beaumaris Primary School at that time
• The most appropriate ways to support healing for victim-survivors, secondary victims and affected communities
• Whether support services for victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in government schools are effective, considering other inquiries and reforms that have taken place since the historical abuse occurred.
The Board of Inquiry will investigate historical cases of abuse – and is not investigating the current Beaumaris Primary School, or any other current school or contemporary staff members.
Kathleen Foley SC will chair the Board of Inquiry – an eminent Senior Counsel and Commissioner with the Victorian Law Reform Commission. Ms Foley will be required to deliver a final report to government by February 28.
Premier Daniel Andrews said: “Children should feel their safest at school – not be subject to harrowing abuse at the hands of teachers they trust. This inquiry won’t undo their pain, but we hope it gives victim-survivors the recognition and support they deserve.”
Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said: “Victims have carried the grief and trauma they experienced at school for more than five decades”