When the Victorian Government established the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse at Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools, we wanted to give Victorians who were profoundly let down by the school system in decades past the opportunity to have their voices and experiences heard.
More than 120 victim-survivors, secondary victims, affected community members and stakeholders came forward, placed their trust in the process and shared their experiences.
During public hearings, private sessions, and submissions, victim-survivors shared their stories of trauma and abuse that no child should bear, let alone in a place that should have been their place of safety: their school.
Victim-survivors told of the lifelong and devastating impacts the abuse had on their mental health, education, employment outcomes, and relationships.
Friends, families, and communities shared their own experiences and the impacts that the abuse had on their ability to care for their loved ones, their own mental health and wellbeing.
Carrying these stories is a heavy burden, and while I know it won’t undo the pain, I hope that in sharing their experience, that it has given victim-survivors at Beaumaris Primary and certain other government schools the recognition and support they deserve.
I want to thank each and every person who shared their story and for their courageous contribution to the work of this inquiry.
We will continue to engage with victim-survivors who came forward to the Board of Inquiry when considering implementation of the Government’s response, as well as the development of a formal apology to victim-survivors of abuse at Beaumaris Primary School and across Victorian government schools later this year.
I would also like to thank the Chair, Kathleen Foley SC, for her investigations and findings which we will respond to in due course.
