One of the few, but also the fastest response we have ever received from the Victorian Government, affirms the legitmacy of the huge concerns we raised on 10/8/2025 in a formal statement to the Premier. About the how and when the recommendations of the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools are implemented.
We have been offered a meeting with the Chair of the Truth Telling Forum and a relevant member of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. To discuss what doing the right things, in the right way and the right time looks like, that focusses on the experiences of, and benefits for, survivors, families and communities. We are currently negotiating who attends that meeting.
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In summary, the Victorian Government announcement on 6 August 2025 regarding the establishment of the Forum for Truth and Recognition, included the end date, and some people employed, for the truth telling process, but provided no information on what Victorians want to know.
- The who, how, what and when people can engage with, share stories and provide information to, as part of truth telling.
Suggesting the Victorian government intends to reverse engineer, the all important "how, who and what" of the truth telling process, to fit the end date of 29 May 2026.
Rather than working out how long is needed to do the right things, in the right way, at the right time. That maximises the experience of, and benefits for, people choosing to engage in truth telling. As part of the Government's implementation of
Recommendation 3: Establish a statewide independent truth-telling and accountability process.
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Compare what the Victorian government announced as part of the Beaumaris Board of Inquiry, to what it announced on 6 August 2025.
- The public-focussed Beaumaris Board of Inquiry announcement on 22 September 2023, communicated how victim-survivors as well as other people or groups, can engage in many ways. Including opportunities to meet with the Board of Inquiry, make submissions, participate in private sessions and attend the public hearings.
- The internally focussed Forum for Truth and Recognition announcement is the Government communicating why the Forum was established, the instrument for establishing it, the Chair, and date the associated report is required to be delivered to the Victorian Governor. 29 May 2026.
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"22 September 2023 Announcement
Listening to and learning from the experiences of victim-survivors and their families, friends and supporters (secondary victims) is at the heart of the Inquiry.
Victim-survivors as well as other people or groups, can engage with us in many ways. Over the course of the Inquiry there will be opportunities to meet with us, make submissions, participate in private sessions and attend our public hearings.
Those who might wish to engage can include:
· victim-survivors
· secondary victim-survivors (such as partners, children, parents, siblings and extended family)
· service providers, clinicians and support workers
· advocacy groups
· members of affected communities
· peak bodies
· academics
· legal firms.
If you are uncertain about whether to share your experiences with the Inquiry (including because you are uncertain whether your experiences are within the scope of our terms of reference), please contact us via telephone (03) 8301 0102 or via email contact@beaumarisinquiry.vic.gov.au.
Confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements
Victim-survivors who have previously signed confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements with the Department of Education as part of any settlement of child sexual abuse claims are still able to freely speak to the Inquiry. The Department of Education has advised that it will not require victim-survivors to comply with these obligations.
If you would like more information about the Department of Education’s position on these issues, please contact us via telephone (03) 8301 0102 or via email contact@beaumarisinquiry.vic.gov.au.
Make a submission
Submissions will be an important way for the Inquiry to listen to and learn from victim-survivors and others.
The submission process will be open from 7 September 2023 until 12 October 2023.
Submissions may take the form of text, audio, images, video or other document formats. You are encouraged to share your experiences in whatever format is best for you.
How to prepare your submission
Before you make a submission, please ensure you have read the Submission Information Sheet. This document outlines important questions to help guide your submission.
Submission information sheet 01.11.23
PDF 459.11 KB
(opens in a new window)
You can choose to make a submission on the basis that it may be:
· Public: The entire submission may be published, including the name of the individual, group or organisation.
· Anonymous: The submission may be published, but all identifying information will be removed.
· Confidential: The submission will not be published and will be used to inform the Inquiry’s considerations only.
How to lodge your submission
Online
Make a submission(opens in a new window)
By Post
If you or your group or organisation would like to make a submission via post, please send with the Submission Cover Sheet.
Submission cover sheet 01.11.23
PDF 463.84 KB
Send the Submission Cover Sheet along with your submission to:
Beaumaris Board of Inquiry
PO Box 18092, Collins Street East, VIC, 8003.
Private sessions
Private sessions are another important way for the Inquiry to listen to and learn from victim-survivors and others.
We understand that not all individuals wish to participate in public hearings.
We are committed to ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to share their experiences in the way that is best for them.
If you are uncertain about whether to share your experiences with the Inquiry (including because you are uncertain whether your experiences are within the scope of our terms of reference), please contact us via telephone (03) 8301 0102 or via email contact@beaumarisinquiry.vic.gov.au.
Private sessions will be held from September 2023 to December 2023. We will work with you to try to schedule the time that best suits you.
Private sessions will be held in Melbourne’s CBD. We will consider the preferences and needs of the individual wherever possible.
How to register for a private session
Online
Before you register for a private session, please ensure you have read the Invitation to participate in private sessions. This document outlines important information about our private sessions.
Invitation to participate in private sessions
PDF 79.13 KB
Register for a private session(opens in a new window)
By Phone
If you would like to register for a private session or have any further questions, please call (03) 8301 0102."
https://www.beaumarisinquiry.vic.gov.au/share-your-experiences
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29 May 2026 Announcement
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 has officially started 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 has commenced 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.
Quotes attributable to 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.”
Quote attributable to 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."
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/ensuring-truth-and-accountability-victim-survivors
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