The Victorian Government has formally apologised to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in government schools during a special sitting of Parliament.
Premier Ben Carroll acknowledged decades of systemic failures that left children unprotected and allowed abuse to continue between 1960 and 1994.
He admitted that authorities failed to listen to victims, failed to act, and prioritised the reputation of the education system over the safety of children.
The apology follows an independent 2024 inquiry that exposed a culture of secrecy and cover-ups within Victoria’s Education Department.
Premier Carroll said the lifelong impacts of abuse have affected victims, their families and communities, and stressed that the shame belongs to the perpetrators and the institutions that failed them.
The government says the apology is part of ongoing efforts to acknowledge the past and strengthen child safety protections across Victorian schools.
