Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll have announced the state government's response to the final report from a board of inquiry into historical sexual abuse of students at Beaumaris Primary School in Melbourne's southeast.
All nine recommendations have been accepted, including for a statewide apology to be made by the government in parliament and a public memorial to acknowledge the Beaumaris victim-survivors.
The apology is set to be delivered in 2026 after a process of hearing the experiences of victim-survivors of historical sexual abuse at all government schools before 2000.
The background: The board of inquiry was set up in June 2023 by then-premier Daniel Andrews to establish the extent of sexual abuse at Beaumaris from the 1960s to the 1990s. It was later expanded to cover 23 other schools.
The inquiry's final report was released in March and found the Department of Education "woefully failed to protect children from the risk" of sexual abuse because it did not have policies in place to deal with allegations or convictions.
The department was told of the conviction and sentencing of teacher David MacGregor, who was also found guilty of misconduct in an internal investigation in the 1980s.
However, he was allowed to remain as an employee, transferred into an administrative role and was only banned from teaching for three years.
The key quote: "We make a clear and simple acknowledgement: we failed. We failed to keep these children safe, we failed to listen when they spoke out, we failed to act to ensure that it did not happen again." — Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.
What else to know: The inquiry also found the department had still not done a review into allegations of sexual abuse at Beaumaris or within the broader system.
In response, the government has committed to reviewing how historical child sexual abuse matters were treated and responded to across the public school system pre-2000. The government will report publicly on this in 2026.
Beaumaris victim-survivor Rick Turner was nine when he was abused and said he only recently realised he wasn't alone. The 61-year-old still deals with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health challenges.
"It's great that we've got this far," Turner said. "For us it was very much about giving others the opportunity to have a voice and create a scenario where the silence is stopped."
What happens now: A restorative engagement program and dedicated website and telephone line for victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in government schools will also be set up.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at and .
Anyone seeking information or support relating to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.
