Shocking Truth Telling government decisions. Inadequate time, expertise, leadership, processes.
Here's what we asked the Department of Education this morning prior to their shocking announcement on the truth telling process this aftenoon. The announcement included 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟵 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.
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What we asked the Department of Education this morning prior to their shocking announcement
"1. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse conducted private sessions from May 2013 to May 2017. During this period, 6,875 people shared their experiences of institutional child sexual abuse in private sessions with Commissioners.
The Beaumaris Inquiry “The submission process was initially open from 7 September 2023 to 31 October 2023, but the Board of Inquiry continued to accept submissions from victim-survivors and secondary victims until 15 December 2023, the same date the private sessions concluded. Over the course of the inquiry, 36 people shared their experiences through private sessions.”
This time period was totally inadequate, to allow enough awareness of the process, and most importantly, time for survivors and families, to consider participation in the process.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀?
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲?
𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱?
𝟮. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁? 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?
Replication of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse truth telling processes (from initial contact through to post truth telling session), as a baseline, is costly, but necessary.
It includes what the Beaumaris Board of Inquiry private sessions/truth telling did not do.
“Information from private sessions was collected through various methods, including transcripts, and was used to inform the Commission's investigations and recommendations.”
But the Beaumaris Board of Inquiry lacked the really important, ongoing provision of narratives captured, deidentified and available on the RC website. Which we know many survivors have accessed their Royal Commission narratives, and used, in legal proceedings.
https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/narrative
For example, appropriately redacted version of stories were not made public, as advised the Beaumaaris Boaard of Inquiry would do. We believe the Beaumaris Board of Inquiry ran out of money to meet their initial commitments.
3. Acting on existing recommendations, and recent, relevant research.
𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲?
𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵?
𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆?
𝗔𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀?
“these records document First Peoples’ experiences, perspectives, and historical injustices, forming a vital archive of truth and accountability.”
https://www.yoorrook.org.au/shared-truths/truth-archive
𝟰. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱? 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶.𝗲. 𝗻𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
“Each private session was conducted by one or two Commissioners and was an opportunity for a person to tell their story of abuse in a protected and supportive environment. Many accounts from these sessions are told in a de-identified form in this Final Report.
The commissioners brought diverse expertise, including legal, policing, social work, and psychiatry.”
The six commissioners were:
• Justice Peter McClellan (Chair)
• Mr. Bob Atkinson
• Justice Jennifer Coate
• Mr. Robert Fitzgerald
• Professor Helen Milroy
f. Mr. Andrew Murray
𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺, 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀? 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹/𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?
That prevents what happened during the Beaumaris Board of Inquiry, where only a limited number of private sessions were available within the designated timeframe. And many survivors who wanted to have a private session, missed out.
𝟱. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼, 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻?
𝗜𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁?
𝟲. 𝗪𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 etc.
𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲, 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀?
"Receive a disclosure from a former student
If you receive a disclosure from a former student of your school about historical abuse you must act.
If the former student is:
no longer of school age or attending a Victorian school - you must still act.
To report abuse if you're a current or former student:
In an emergency, or if you believe that another person is at immediate risk, call Triple Zero (000)
If there is no immediate danger, contact:
your local police station to speak with a police officer
your local Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) for child sexual assaults involving institutional, government or religious organisations where the assaults involved a single complainant and offender.
the Victoria Police Sexual Crimes Squad on 1800 110 007, or by email at sanotaskforce@police.vic.gov.au for historic and new allegations of child sexual abuse.
This guidance is intended to support:
government schools to report to relevant areas within the department (this may include the principal of the school, the regional office, the Conduct and Integrity Division and the Incident Support and Operations Centre)”
𝟳. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝗶𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿/𝘀 𝗱𝗼, 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻?
𝟴. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝟱, 𝟲, 𝟳, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟴 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁?
𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟱: 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟲: 𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗯 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺-𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟳: 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱
𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟴: 𝗔 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲
𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗲𝘁𝗰.?
__________________________________________________________
The Victorian Government's announcement this afternoon.
https://www.vic.gov.au/forum-truth-and-recognition
"Forum for Truth and Recognition
The Victorian Government has established an independent forum for victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools to share their experiences and contribute to the public record.
About the Forum for Truth and Recognition
The Forum for Truth and Recognition: Victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools will be independent from government and allow all victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse (prior to the year 2000) in Victorian government schools and certain other schools to share their experiences and contribute to a public record.
The Forum for Truth and Recognition will contribute to the understanding of the trauma experienced by victim-survivors and allow the government to better prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in government schools now and into the future.
It has been established with guidance from victim-survivors and stakeholder organisations.
Why was the Forum established?
In June 2023, the Victorian Government established a Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools.
The Board of Inquiry delivered its final report to the Governor on 26 February 2024. You can read the final report on the Board of Inquiry’s website.
The final report made 9 recommendations to the Victorian Government.
In June 2024, the Victorian Government accepted all nine recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry in full or in principle.
The Forum for Truth and Recognition responds to Recommendation
3, that the Victorian Government establish a statewide truth-telling and accountability process for victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in all Victorian government schools.
You can read the recommendations and see a progress update at Board of Inquiry.
Establishing instrument
The Premier established the Forum for Truth and Recognition as a Formal Review under section 93 of the Inquiries Act 2014 (the Act).
The Act allows for a Formal Review to be established to consider important issues affecting the community.
Forum for Truth and Recognition will be required to inquire into and report on:
the experiences of victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse who were abused by a relevant employee in any Victorian government schools prior to the year 2000; and the experiences of victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in a Victorian non-government school prior to the year 2000, where the alleged perpetrator was previously a relevant employee of a Victorian government school and allegedly committed child sexual abuse while employed at that government school.
About the Chair
Ms Angela Connors has been appointed as Chair of the Forum for Truth and Recognition.
Ms Connors has significant executive and leadership experience in social policy fields, including within the Victorian Public Service, consultancy and not-for-profit organisations. She has a deep understanding of Victorian communities and diverse stakeholder groups.
Timeline
The Forum for Truth and Recognition is currently establishing its processes and workplan.
Avenues to participate will be shared on this page once available.
The Forum is required to deliver its report by 29 May 2026.
How can I participate?
The Forum for Truth and Recognition is currently establishing its processes and workplan. Updates will be provided on this page when available."
The Forum can be contacted at contact@truthandrecognition.vic.gov.au
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We will continue to communicate our concerns with the Victorian government, and work with other advocates, such as Sexual Assault Services Victoria, and members of Victorian Parliament. To ensure the Victorian government invests in adequate time, expertise, leadership, and processes, survivors deserve, to support their truth telling.
That includes forming a vital archive of narratives. Ensuring the truth and accountability for the experiences, perspectives, and historical injustices, of survivors, their families and communities.