The Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools, like the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, was created as a result of public interest journalism.

“Joanne McCarthy and the Newcastle Morning Herald’s investigation of the Catholic Church’s response to the sexual abuse of children by clergy in the Hunter region of New South Wales was a decisive factor in Julia Gillard’s decision to appoint the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse. This is the story of how that journalism was done and how it galvanised other institutions, including police and politicians, to create a climate in which the clamour for a royal commission became irresistible.” 

How journalism got Australia the child-abuse royal commission. By DENIS MULLER.

We are forever grateful to Rod Owen for bravely sharing his story with ABC journalist Russell Jackson, which led to numerous other survivors and families sharing their stories. We have asked that the Board of Inquiry recognise this also. 
Addiction almost killed AFL star Rod Owen, but he was hiding the agony of abuse

We are also so grateful that the remarkable investigative journalism of Russell Jackson continues to shine a light on the decades of systemic failures, and the horrific impacts, of known, prolific perpetrators of child sexual abuse, being moved around Victorian government schools. Even when the schools and the Department of Education, had knowledge of criminal convictions for child sexual abuse. 

Whilst we know this happened in other institutions, the details of this horrifying betrayal of children still shocks.

As painful as it is for victim/survivors to read these stories, and see the images of the perpetrators, it has enabled countless people to access long repressed memories, and/or share their own stories of child sexual abuse. Enabling many to start processing what happened to them, which may include receiving the comfort and support of family and friends.  And/or accessing professional and other supports, and for some, embarking on the process of seeking justice for the horrendous crime committed against them as a child.

Russell Jackson's latest article, The horror story of paedophile Beaumaris Primary teacher David MacGregor has finally been laid bare, in at times, harrowing detail, supports why the Victorian Government needs to drastically increase funding in services and supports for victim/survivors of child sexual abuse.

And why the Victorian Government must conduct similar inquiries into historic child sexual abuse in those government institutions which haven't faced the scrutiny of the current Board of Inquiry.

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