School Sexual Abuse Lawyers Arnold Thomas & Becker is currently running over 400 civil claims against Victorian schools for historical child sexual abuse, which involves action against more than 250 schools across the state. These cases relate to Victorian educational settings across public, religious and other independent schools, including primary and secondary schools and specialist schools. This is in addition to many cases that we have already settled. The large number of people coming forward was initially influenced from increased disclosures following the royal commission into institutional response into child sexual abuse, but has increased in recent years as more and more people are standing up for themselves and demanding to be heard. Kim Price, head of Arnold Thomas & Becker’s abuse practice says, “I don’t believe we’ve seen the true number as yet. From my experience in dealing with survivors of abuse we know that many don’t report it, and if they do it can be years or even decades later. When first hear about abuse at a school, our investigations often reveal there are multiple victims of a single predator – we think there are a lot more out there that we still don’t know about.” School should be a place where children feel safe. Unfortunately, for thousands of Australian students, this has not been the case. Instead, we are hearing from students from across the country that they have been subjected to sexual abuse by teachers and other members of school staff. We are working on cases from as far back as the 1960s and as recently as this decade. The number of cases we have handled against schools makes us one of Australia’s most experienced school abuse lawyers. We have represented thousands of survivors and have detailed information about the schools, teachers and staff involved in current and former claims and can call on a large number of witnesses who can help to validate new claims. If you have suffered abuse in an Australian school, we are here to listen to you and advise you on your rights. You many be eligible for compensation, which could be in the millions. Before entering a class action, seek independent legal advice as it may not be in your best interests. A reminder about the National Redress Scheme We also remind survivors to make certain that they seek legal advice before considering the National Redress Scheme, which is likely to provide inadequate compensation. Cases through the National Redress Scheme are capped at $150,000 and we have obtained over $2M for some of our clients. Arnold Thomas & Becker have launched a class action for survivors of institutional sexual abuse who received compensation from the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse and were advised by Knowmore Legal Service. For more information, visit our Knowmore Class Action page. Client Outcomes $1 million payout for a former student whose teacher forced him to strip naked during “sex education” classes at a school for the deaf $1.5M was awarded to a client who was abused by Christian Brothers at a private school on many occasions $1.5M was paid to a client who was raped by Father Pidoto from Xavier College in Melbourne For more institutional abuse settlement outcomes, visit our Client Outcomes page. How to make a claim The first step is to contact us. You can do this via our online form below, or by contacting us on social media or on the phone. Any information you share with us will be treated as confidential. Take a stand against abuse and talk to an abuse lawyer today on 1300 333 300. Schools we have investigated/are investigating Annex and Wylar School Apollo Bay High School Aquinas Boys College in Ringwood (Christian Brothers and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) Ardeer High School (State of Victoria) Avondale Heights Primary Bairnsdale West Primary Ballam Park Technical School Ballarat Clarendon College (Formally Ballarat College) Ballarat Grammar Bandiana Primary School Barwon Downs Primary School Bayside Christian College Bayswater Primary School Beaumaris Primary School (VIC) Bell Park High School Bell Street Primary School in Preston Bendigo Violet Street Primary School Berengarra School Boronia Heights Primary School Box Hill Primary School Brighton Grammar Broadmeadows High School Brunswick High School Brunswick West Primary School Burwood East Primary School Cathedral College, Melbourne Catherine McAuley College (VIC) Catholic Regional Colege St Albans Catholic Regional College, St Albans Caulfield High School, Caulfield Chisolm Christian College Christian Brother’s College Christian Brothers Parade College Christian Brothers School Christian Brothers Secondary School in St Kilda Clayton North Primary School Coatesville Primary School Coburg High School Coburg Technical School Corpus Christi Primary School Cowra High School Cowra Public School Craigieburn Primary School Dandenong Primary School Darley Primary School De La Salle College Debney Meadows Primary School Derinya Primary School Dominic early learning Centre Doveton Tech School Drummond St Primary School & St Patrick’s College Drysdale Primary School Drysdale Primary School & Bendigo Tech school Eaglehawk Primary School East Ringwood Primary School Echuca Primary Emerald Secondary College Emmaus College Essendon Grammar Fawkner Technical School Findon Primary School in Mill Park Footscray Primary School Footscray West Primary School Foster High School, Foster Fountain Gate Campus, Eumemmerring Secondary College Geelong Christian College Geelong College Geelong Grammar School Gippsland Grammar School Glendonald School for the Deaf Glenroy College Goodwood Primary School Goulburn Valley Grammar School Grey St Primary School Traralgon Haig Street Primary School, Heidelberg West Haileybury Hallam Primary School Hawkesdale Secondary College Heidelberg Primary School Hernes Oark Primary School Holy Child Primary School, Dallas Holy Family, Doveton Holy Rosary School Inverloch pimary school Jacksons Special School Jordanville Technical School Kardinia International College Kingston Primary School La Trobe Regional Special School Lara High School Lavalla Catholic College Leiber Yavneh College, Elsternwick Lilydale High School Lilydale Primary Schoolha Lyndhurst Secondary School (VIC) MacLeod High School Maffra Secondary Maidstone Primary School Mansfield Secondary College Maranatha Christian School Marcelin Junior School Marist Brother’s School Bendigo Marist Brothers College in Preston Marist Brothers Maitland Marist Brothers Thebarton 1 (later became Kilmarra High School) Marist Sion College Maroondah High School Mazenod Boys College Meadow Heights Primary School Melbourne Grammar School Melrose Primary School Mentone Grammar School (VIC) Mercy Regional College Merri Primary School Moe High School Moe Regional College Monivae College, Hamilton Monterey High School Moomba Park Primary School Mount Clear State Primary School (VIC) Mountain Gate Primary School Mt Beauty High School & Mt Waverly High School Mullauna College, Mitcham Myrniong Primary Nayook State School Nelson Park School Northcote Farm Northside Christian College Oakleigh High School Oakleigh Primary School Ormond East Primary School, Ormond Osborne Primary School, Mount Martha & Mornington High School, Mornington Our Lady for Helpful Christians, Ballarat Parade College, Bundoora Parade College; St Vincent’s College Bendigo Parade Preparatory College, Alphington Parade Prepatory College Patrician Brothers College, Fairfield Peninsula Grammar Pyalong State School Research Primary School Rosebud High School Rupertswood College Sacred Heart College, Oakleigh Sacred Heart Primary School Sacred Heart, Fitzroy Sacred Heart, Shepparton Salesian College ‘Rupertswood’, Sunbury Salesian College, Sunbury Salesians College in Sunbury (Salesians of Don Bosco) Samaritan Catholic College (VIC) Sandringham Secondary College Sandringham Technical School Santa Maria College, Northcote Scotch College Specimin Hill Primary School Bendigo Spotswood Primary School (VIC) Springview Primary St Alipius Primary School, Ballarat East AND St Patrick’s College, Ballarat St Anthony’s Primary School, Glen Huntly St Augustines St Augustine’s School in Yarraville (Archdiocese) St Bernards College St Brigids Primary School St Columbus College St Francis of Assisi Primary School, Mill Park St Gerard’s Primary School, Dandenong St James’ Primary School in Brighton (Archdiocese and Presentation Sisters) St John’s College, Braybrook St John’s College, Dandenong St Joseph’s College, Geelong St Joseph’s Junior College, Pasco Vale St Joseph’s Primary – Boronia St Joseph’s School, Wonthaggi & Wonthaggi Technical School, Wonthaggi St Joseph’s College Newtown St Joseph’s College, Geelong St Joseph’s College, Mildura St Joseph’s College, Warragul St Joseph’s Geelong St Joseph’s Primary School, Trafalgar St Joseph’s Primary School, Warragul St Joseph’s Sebastopol; St Patrick’s College Ballarat St Joseph’s, Geelong St Joseph’s, Pascoe Vale St Kevins St Kilian’s Primary School St Leo’s College St Leo’s College, Box Hill St Mary Magdalene Primary, Jordanville St Mary’s Catholic School in Ascot Vale St Mary’s Primary School Myrtleford (Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst) St Mary’s Primary School, Ararat St Mary’s Primary School, Echuca St Mary’s Primary School, Sale St Mary’s Technical College (Christian Brothers) St Mary’s Thornbury & Trinity Catholic Secondary, Brunswick St Patrick’s College in Ballarat (Christian Brothers) St Patrick’s, Sale St Paul’s Catholic Secondary College, Traralgon St Paul’s College, Altona North St Paul’s Technical School College in Ballarat (Christian Brothers) St Paul’s, Traralgon St Pius Parish School, Warrnambool and Christian Brothers College, Warrnambool St Robert’s Primary School in Newtown St Scholastica’s Primary School in East Burwood St Thomas Moore College St Vincent’s Boys’ Home St Vincent’s College, Bendigo and St Kevin’s College, Toorak Star of the Sea College (VIC) Studfield East Primary School Sunbury Salesian College Sunshine Technical School Surrey Hills Primary School Templestowe College (State of Victoria) Templestowe High Terang Primary Therry College Thomastown Primary School Timbarra P-9 College Toorak College Trinity Grammar School Trinity Regional College (VIC) Tucker Rd Primary School, Moorabbin University High School Unknown school (Kelly client) Wanganui Secondary College Warburton Adventist School Warrambool North Technical School Warrnambool West Primary School Warrane High School Watsonia Heights Primary School Wesley College Westall State Primary School Whitefriars College (Whitefriars College Inc) Whitefriars College Donvale (VIC) Winnaleah District High School Wodonga High School Xavier College Yackandandah Primary School Yea Secondary