People invited to share experiences of child sexual abuse to make Victorian schools safer

PEOPLE who experienced child sexual abuse in Victorian schools are coming forward to contribute to a public record to protect future students and make schools safer.

Angela Connors, the chair of the independent Forum for Truth and Recognition, is encouraging people who wish to share their experience of child sexual abuse to contact the forum before 18 March.

To fall within the scope of the forum, the child sexual abuse had to occur in a Victorian government school – or certain non-government school – before the year 2000.

If someone has experienced child sexual abuse in school and cannot share their experience themselves, family and friends can enquire about participating on their behalf.

“People can participate in a variety of ways – by booking a personalised session to talk to me, or by making a submission, which could be a written statement, voice recording, poem, artwork or a song,” Connors said.

“How people participate is entirely their choice. People can share their experience anonymously, confidentially or publicly. We invite people to share their experience in a way that feels right to them.”

Experiences shared with the forum will inform a report to the Premier of Victoria in mid-2026. The report will encourage all Victorians to learn from the past to better prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in schools into the future.

 

The forum is committed to ensuring people who participate are supported every step of the way. Before and after someone participates, they will be supported by wellbeing facilitators and be offered counselling and referrals for ongoing support.

“This is a healing journey that starts with your truth. Every experience matters and should be heard,” Connors said.

The forum was established in response to a recommendation from the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools. The report was delivered in February 2024.

It was recommended that the Victorian government establish a statewide forum for people to come forward and share their experiences.

The forum opened in October last year and offers a unique opportunity for people to share their experiences in a safe and respectful space, have their voices heard and contribute to the public record.

Contact the forum to participate before 18 March.

You can contact the forum by phone on 1800 967 933, via email at [email protected], or mail PO BOX 256, Collins Street West, VIC 8007.

For more information, head to truthandrecognition.vic.gov.au

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