On Monday 6 February 2023, Victorian Premier Dan Andrews met with, and received written statements from, victim/survivors and families from the Beaumaris community. The Premier advised that a formal announcement with more details will be made in a couple of weeks time, regarding the formal apology to victims of child sex abuse in the Victorian government schools.
We welcome ongoing consultation with numerous victim/survivors, families, communities and advocates, on the intent and delivery of the apology, and the accompanying post-apology actions.
"When announced, the Andrews government said the apology would be directed at "survivors of all forms of abuse in institutional settings".
But it did not specifically reference victim-survivors from state schools, who are covered by a federal redress scheme.
Mr Andrews denied they were originally excluded from the apology.
"If there has been any confusion or if there's been a sense by any of those victim-survivors or their carers, families, advocates that they were not included in the spirit of the apology ... then I'm very sorry about that," he told reporters.
On Monday, Mr Andrews will meet with several government school abuse survivors, including former Beaumaris Primary School student Glen Fearnett who was allegedly abused by a teacher in the 1970s.
"They've told their story, they've advocated and I'm looking forward to hearing from them," he said.
"It's only through listening, and then acting and believing victim-survivors that we can hope to make sure that we don't see a repeat of this evil sort of behaviour."
A date for the apology and its exact wording will be led by consultation with victim-survivors, the premier said.
"We need to make sure that there's the best possible opportunity for as many people to be a part of that," Mr Andrews added.
"It's about recognition that so many Victorians carry the burden of that terrible, terrible experience with them every single day."
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