Next week the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools will deliver its report to the Victorian Government. We have written to the Office of the Premier, Hon Jacinta Allan MP, requesting that the government make the report publically available immediately after it is tabled in parliament.
We are also requesting, like the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations is an online resource, which displays progress against each recommendation on their website, enabling accountability and transparency, that the Board of Inquiry recommendations are also an online resource. We remain extremely concerned that this has not been replicated for reporting on the Victorian government’s responses to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommendations.
The Board of Inquiry was required to inquire into, report on and make any recommendations considered appropriate, in relation to the following terms of reference:
- "a) The experiences of victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse who were abused by a relevant employee at Beaumaris Primary School during the 1960s and/or 1970s;
- b) The experiences of victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse who were abused by a relevant employee in any other government school;
- c) The response of the Department of Education in relation to the historical child sexual abuse described in clauses (3)(a) and (b) above, including the Department of Education and its officers’ state of knowledge and any actions it took or failed to take at or around the time of the abuse;
- d) Appropriate ways to support healing for affected victim-survivors, secondary victims and affected communities including, for example, the form of a formal apology, memorialisation or other activities;
- e) Having regard to other inquiries and reforms that have taken place since the
historical child sexual abuse occurred, whether there are effective support services for victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in government schools; - f) Any other matters related to these Terms of Reference necessary to satisfactorily inquire into or address the Terms of Reference."
The report is vital to achieving the objectives of the Board of Inquiry:
- "a) Establish an official public record of victim-survivors’ experiences of historical child sexual abuse by relevant employees in Beaumaris Primary School and by the same relevant employees at other government schools;
- b) Develop a shared understanding, among all Victorians, of the impact of that historical child sexual abuse on victim-survivors, secondary victims, affected communities, and society;
- c) Support the healing of the affected victim-survivors, secondary victims, and affected communities;
- d) Reiterate the State’s commitment that such abuse must not happen again;
- e) Review the effectiveness of support services that are provided to support victimsurvivors of historical child sexual abuse in government schools;
- f) Understanding that some time has passed since the historical child sexual abuse, review the Department of Education’s knowledge and response to any of the abuse at or around the time of the abuse."
---------------------------------------------------------
The next Victorian Child Sexual Abuse Survivors and Supporters lunch is on Wednesday, 13th March, two weeks after the Victorian government will have received the recommendations from the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools. An important time for the community to come together.
The Sandringham Hotel is accessible via public transport, a short walk from the Sandringham Railway Station. There is also off street and undercover parking, plus it is wheel chair accessible. There is no minimum spend requirements either, nor is there a booking fee, and there is an express menu available from 11:30 AM - 3 PM midweek, that is a main and dessert for $19.
You can turn up on the day, but if it is possible please RSVP beforehand via the Facebook event link below, thank you.
--------------------------------------------------
Thank you to all our supporters! Please continue to share our petition, we are stronger together.