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Victorian Government Apologises to Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in Government Schools

The Victorian Government has formally apologised to victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools, acknowledging the systemic failures that allowed abuse to occur and recognising the lifelong impact experienced by survivors.

Premier Ben Carroll delivered the apology in the Victorian Parliament following recommendations from the Forum for Truth and Recognition, the Beaumaris Board of Inquiry, and the Systemic Review into Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian Government Schools.

The apology acknowledges that many children who should have been safe at school were sexually abused by people entrusted with their care and that, in many cases, complaints were not believed or appropriately acted upon.

While the apology is an important milestone for survivors, many continue to seek justice, accountability and compensation for the harm they have suffered.

Arnold Thomas & Becker in the Media

Arnold Thomas & Becker was featured by ABC News following the Victorian Government’s parliamentary apology, with our Head of Institutional Abuse, Kim Price, commenting on the continuing number of survivors coming forward.

Mr Price said the firm’s investigations currently involve allegations from more than 730 former students across over 460 Australian schools, including 357 schools in Victoria.

He noted that the firm continues to receive enquiries every month, including allegations involving abuse as recent as 2024.

According to Mr Price:

“The staggering number of people coming forward demonstrates the inherent failures of our education systems to implement effective policies and procedures to prevent, identify and respond to sexual and physical abuse within schools.”

Mr Price also highlighted that Arnold Thomas & Becker’s investigations have identified cases where allegations of abuse were reportedly not properly addressed and where alleged offenders allegedly remained in contact with students or were transferred to other schools.

Commenting on the Victorian Government’s apology, Mr Price said:

“An apology alone is not enough. Survivors also need access to fair financial compensation, psychological treatment and ongoing medical support.”

ABC News Coverage

Arnold Thomas & Becker was featured by ABC News in its coverage of the Victorian Government’s formal apology to survivors of child sexual abuse in government schools.

The report highlighted the firm’s ongoing investigations into historical abuse allegations across Victorian schools and included comments from Kim Price regarding the continuing number of survivors seeking legal advice.

Read the full ABC News article:

Victorian Government apologises to victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in schools

Who May Be Affected

You may wish to seek legal advice if you experienced sexual abuse while attending:

  • A Victorian government school
  • A Catholic school
  • An independent or private school
  • A boarding school
  • Another educational institution

You may also wish to seek advice if you:

  • Reported abuse that was ignored or not properly investigated.
  • Believe a school failed to protect students.
  • Believe an alleged offender remained employed despite complaints.
  • Have experienced ongoing psychological, emotional or financial impacts as a result of the abuse.

Every person’s circumstances are unique, and legal advice should be based on the individual facts of their case.

How Arnold Thomas & Becker Can Help

Arnold Thomas & Becker has extensive experience acting for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

Our team can:

  • Provide confidential legal advice.
  • Assess whether you may have a compensation claim.
  • Obtain and review relevant records.
  • Investigate institutional responsibility.
  • Guide you through the legal process with sensitivity and care.

We understand that coming forward can be difficult. Initial enquiries are confidential, and there is no obligation to proceed.

Disclaimer

The Victorian Government’s apology acknowledges historical systemic failures within government schools. Every legal claim depends on its individual facts and evidence. Anyone considering legal action should obtain independent legal advice based on their personal circumstances.

Register Your Experience

If you experienced sexual abuse at a Victorian school and would like confidential legal advice, you can contact Arnold Thomas & Becker to discuss your circumstances with our Institutional Abuse team.

Register Your Experience Here