维多利亚州总理本·卡罗尔在议会对州立学校儿童性虐待受害者进行了正式道歉[1]。卡罗尔在道歉中承认，"儿童和年轻人在维多利亚州立学校应该是安全的，却被信任的人性虐待"[1]，并指出"学生不被相信，他们的施虐者没有被追究责任"[1]。这一道歉涉及2000年前的系统性失败和监管漏洞[1]。
律师事务所Arnold Thomas & Becker代表730多名来自460所澳洲学校的前学生调查虐待案件，其中357所位于维多利亚州[1]。该事务所持续收到大量新控告，包括2024年的指控[1]。律师事务所代表Kim Price表示，"幸存者需要获得公平的经济赔偿、心理治疗和持续的医疗支持"[1]。
为应对这一问题，维多利亚州自2000年以来实施了多项改革，包括儿童工作检查、强制儿童安全标准、可报告行为计划和加强教师注册要求[1]。
Victoria's Premier Ben Carroll has issued a formal parliamentary apology to survivors of child sexual abuse in state schools, acknowledging systemic failures and regulatory gaps that occurred before 2000.[1] In his statement, Carroll recognised that "children and young people in Victorian state schools should have been safe, but were sexually abused by people in positions of trust," and acknowledged that "students were not believed and their abusers were not held accountable."[1]
Law firm Arnold Thomas & Becker is investigating cases involving more than 730 former students from 460 Australian schools, of which 357 are located in Victoria.[1] The firm continues to receive substantial inquiries each month, including allegations from 2024, indicating that disclosures of historical abuse remain ongoing.[1] According to Kim Price from the firm, survivors require "fair financial compensation, psychological counselling and ongoing medical support."[1]
In response to the crisis, Victoria has implemented reforms since 2000, including Working with Children checks, mandatory child safety standards, reportable conduct schemes, and strengthened teacher registration requirements.[1]