Board of Inquiry

About the Board of Inquiry

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.

You can learn more about the Board of Inquiry on the Board of Inquiry’s website.

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.

Summary of recommendations

Recommendation 1: Issue a statewide public apology in Parliament.
Recommendation 2: Create a memorial for Beaumaris Primary School and consistent policy guidance and processes on memorials for other government schools.
Recommendation 3: Establish a statewide independent truth-telling and accountability process.
Recommendation 4: Introduce a restorative engagement program for adult victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in government schools outside of civil litigation and Redress Scheme processes.
Recommendation 5: Improve information access through trauma-informed practices for responding to requests for information and improved records management.
Recommendation 6: Implement website and telephone line information and assistance for victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in government schools.
Recommendation 7: Pilot a coordination, navigation, and advocacy support function for adult victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in schools.
Recommendation 8: Implement a targeted program of work to improve service responses, including a formal peer support program, consistent service prioritisation, and promotion.
Recommendation 9: Legislative reform to ensure the enduring protection of personal information provided to boards of inquiry.

Apology from the Secretary, Department of Education

On Friday 17 November 2023, Jenny Atta, Secretary of the Department of Education, gave evidence to the Board of Inquiry.

Secretary Atta acknowledged the ‘shocking abuse and injury inflicted’ on victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in Victoria’s government schools and expressed her deep regret at past ‘catastrophic failings of the government school system and the Department of Education’.

The Secretary also apologised to victim-survivors, their loved ones and affected communities on behalf of the Department of Education.

Read the Statement from the Secretary.

Victorian Government’s response to the Board of Inquiry report

The Victorian Government released its response to the Board of Inquiry on Wednesday 19 June 2024.

In its response, the Victorian Government accepted all 9 recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry, either in full or in principle. The government dedicated $48.29 million in the Victorian Budget 2024/25 to progress this vital work.

Read the Victorian Government’s response to the Board of Inquiry.

Board of Inquiry recommendations – implementation progress

This page is regularly updated with the latest information on implementation of the Board of Inquiry’s recommendations.

Progress update

Work is now underway on all recommendations.

Some key activities include:

establishment of a new Restorative Engagement, Information and Support team within the Department of Education to plan and implement a structured, supportive formal consultation (and for some recommendations, co-design) process that will underpin implementation of a number of the Board of Inquiry’s recommendations. This team is responsible for recommendations 2, 4 and 6 and the ongoing implementation of the restorative engagement program when it is established, in addition to the online hub
beginning informal discussions with victim-survivors and a range of stakeholder organisations, to help build relationships and foster understanding, laying some of the foundations for the formal consultation and co-design processes
improving the Report Sexual Abuse webpage as the platform for the online hub (Recommendation 6), with consultation to inform ongoing improvements to its accessibility and purpose
establishing a monitored telephone line and dedicated email address so that people can receive information and initial assistance and can also register their interest in being kept updated on the Board of Inquiry work:
- Phone: 03 9057 4500
- Email: board.of.inquiry@education.vic.gov.au
commencing the program of work required to improve the Department of Education’s records management which includes collecting and cataloguing school records and digitising historic records, to support ease of access
commencing analysis of options for legislative reform for protection of records shared with boards of inquiry and other types of inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2014.

We encourage any victim-survivors or community members to get in touch with us at any time by emailing or calling us using those details above for updates on any of the recommendations or to get involved.

Consultation

The Victorian Government recognises that talking to, and deeply listening to, victim-survivors, their families, and affected communities is key to implementing the recommendations successfully. We are committed to ensuring that their voices are heard and that all community members who want to be involved are able to participate in a safe and inclusive way.

The Department of Education is developing a trauma-informed stakeholder engagement and consultation plan which will include wellbeing supports for participants. Preliminary conversations have commenced with stakeholders in preparation for wider and extensive consultation on the Beaumaris Primary School memorial (Recommendation 2) in particular. Consultation on the other recommendations will follow.

If you would like more information on the consultation process, or would like to register to participate, please register your details.

Governance and accountability structure

Since the Board of Inquiry released its final report, the Victorian Government has set up a robust governance framework to support implementation of the Board of Inquiry’s recommendations. Representatives from key government departments responsible for implementing the recommendations are working together closely to make sure that the reforms are planned, discussed and carried out in a clear and organised way. The government departments are:

Department of Education (DE)
Department of Family, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC).

Support services

Specialist support services and helplines offer support for children and adults who have been victims of abuse. They can also provide advice for support options for family members.

Services specialising in crisis or counselling support relating to sexual assault and abuse

SACL is a statewide, after-hours, confidential telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced past or recent sexual assault. SACL from 5 pm to 9 am weeknights, and throughout weekends and public holidays. During business hours, calls to SACL are diverted to a local Sexual Assault Services Victoria.
- Phone: 1800 806 292
- Website: Sexual Assault Crisis Line
Blue Knot provides information and support for anyone who is affected by complex trauma. Complex trauma is repeated, ongoing, and often extreme interpersonal trauma (between people) – violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation experienced as a child, young person and adult.
- Phone: 1300 657 380
- Website: Blue Knot

Other support services offering crisis and counselling support

Lifeline is available for anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide.
- Phone: 13 11 14
- Text: 0477 131 114
- Website: Lifeline
13YARN is a national crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in crisis. They offer a culturally safe and confidential one-on-one over the phone yarning opportunity and support with a trained Lifeline Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping.
- Phone: 13 92 76 (13YARN)
- Website: 13 YARN
Rainbow Door is a free specialist LGBTIQ+ helpline. It provides information, support and referral to all LGBTIQ+ Victorians, their friends and family.
- Phone: 1800 729 367
- Text: 0480 017 246
- Website: Rainbow Door
1800 RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.
- Phone: 1800 737 732
- Website: 1800 RESPECT
SAMSN is Australia’s leading organisation for adult male survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters. SAMSN provides a range of free supports including counselling, a peer support phone line and group programs.
- Phone: 1800 472 676
- Website: SAMSN

Feedback

If you have any feedback on the contents of this page, or if you require further information or support, please email the Department of Education’s Restorative Engagement, Information and Support team at REIS@education.vic.gov.au

Education

Updated 29 November 2024

Warning:

On this page