The Victorian Government is making sure the voices of all victim-survivors of historical abuse in government schools are heard, that their experiences are reflected on the public record and that Victoria's education system learns from the grave failures of the past to make sure this never happens again.
The Government will establish the Forum for Truth and Recognition and will now begin a systemic review into historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.
Ms Angela Connors has been appointed as Chair of the independent truth-telling Forum for victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in all Victorian Government schools and certain other schools prior to the year 2000.
Ms Connors has extensive experience across the public service, not-for-profit and consulting sectors and has led work supporting vulnerable and diverse cohorts as Executive Director, Client Services at Life Without Border, specifically in the Disability, Mental Health, Aged Care and Children, Youth and Families portfolios.
Work is underway to establish the Forum's workplan and information on how victim-survivors can participate will be available in the coming months, with a timeline for engagement determined by the Forum.
The Forum will share the experiences of victim-survivors and contribute to the public record in a trauma-informed way to support healing and inform future action in response to Recommendation 3 of the Board of Inquiry. A final report will be provided to the Government in May 2026.
In parallel, the Department of Education will today begin a systemic review into the failings across the government school system over the same period which will examine how historical child sexual abuse matters were treated and examine patterns of offending and institutional failings.
Ms Julia Griffith PSM has been appointed as Independent Monitor to ensure the systemic review is conducted in accordance with the Terms of Reference. A final report will be provided to the Minister for Education by Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
Ms Griffith has a wealth of experience working in program development and service delivery including as Deputy Commissioner and Acting Commissioner for the Victorian Public Sector Commission and Deputy Secretary at the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
At the completion of both these processes in 2026, the Labor Government will publish a public record of these findings and deliver a formal apology in Parliament, in consultation with victim-survivors.
All nine recommendations of the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse at Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools were accepted by the Government - supported by an investment of more than $48 million.
For more information about the Forum for Truth and Recognition visit vic.gov.au/forum-truth-and-recognition.
For more information about the Department of Education systemic review visit vic.gov.au/progress-updates-board-inquiry-recommendations.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"The Board of Inquiry heard that, while the Beaumaris cluster of abuse was particularly insidious, it was not isolated. It's on us to make sure these horrific acts never happen again."
"We are making sure the voices and experiences of all victim-survivors of abuse in government schools are heard forever - helping people heal by telling the truth."
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll
"We can't undo the harm that was caused, but understanding the past abuse and institutional failures is essential to preventing it from ever happening again."
