The Parliamentary Apology for abuse in Victorian government schools: what it means for survivors

On Thursday 30 July 2026, the Victorian Government will formally apologise in Parliament to victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.

The apology is one of nine recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry into Historical Child Sexual Abuse in its report to the Victorian Government on 26 February 2024.

However, as the Victorian Government has acknowledged, an apology needs to be backed by meaningful action.

And it’s important to remember that your legal rights to compensation stay exactly the same.

In this article, we’ll explore how we got here, what the Parliamentary Apology means, and what options are available to victim-survivors of child sexual abuse.

In June 2023, the Victorian Government established the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse at Beaumaris Primary School and selected other Victorian government schools.

The Board was established after long-running advocacy by victim-survivors and their supporters and following serious allegations that multiple staff members from Beaumaris Primary School had sexually abused students throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the staff members abused students at other government schools and so the Inquiry covered other Victorian schools as well.

Following consultation with victim-survivors, secondary victims, and impacted community members about abuse by employees at government schools between 1960 and 1999, the Board delivered its final report on 26 February 2024.

The final report made nine recommendations to the Victorian Government. These included a statewide public apology delivered in Parliament, an independent ‘truth-telling and accountability’ process, and a restorative engagement program for adult victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in government schools.

The Victorian Government released its response on 19 June 2024, accepting recommendations 1-8 in full. Recommendation 9 asked for specific changes to legislation and the Vic Gov accepted this in principle but noted that they need to work through the legal framework so couldn’t agree to all the specifics of that recommendation.

The Parliamentary Apology on 30 July 2026 follows the first recommendation in the report.

The Victorian Government will formally apologise in Parliament to victim-survivors who experienced child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.

The apology will be livestreamed from Parliament, which can be viewed online or at one of the five public apology events held throughout Victoria.

Victim-survivors, families, loved ones, supporters, advocates and affected community are invited to attend a public apology event.

The public apology events will be held in Melbourne CBD, Wodonga, Horsham, Morwell, and Ballarat.

The livestream link will be available on the day here: parliament.vic.gov.au/parliamentary-activity

For more information, visit the Parliamentary Apology webpage.

The Parliamentary Apology on 30 July 2026 specifically relates to child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools.

However, child sexual abuse didn’t only happen in schools.

Many children were also harmed in settings where the State, an institution, or another organisation had responsibility for their care, supervision or safety. This can include foster care, children’s homes, group homes, residential care, youth justice facilities, hospitals, religious institutions, sporting organisations, and other care settings.

For some victim-survivors, the abuse happened decades ago. Some were children in state care, separated from family or community, isolated from support, or dependent on adults and organisations that should have protected them.

The fact that the abuse happened outside a government school doesn’t mean you don’t have options.

The legal pathways available to you will depend on where the abuse occurred, who was responsible for your care or supervision at the time, whether an institution was involved, and whether you have previously received redress, compensation, or a settlement.

If the Parliamentary Apology has brought up your own experience of abuse in another institutional or care setting, it may be worth seeking advice before assuming that nothing can be done.

It’s important to recognise that justice means something different to everyone. For some, an acknowledgement of the harm caused can be what they need. Others may decide to seek financial assistance or compensation. The choice is highly personal, and understanding your options can help the process feel less overwhelming.

Sexual Assault Services Victoria has a comprehensive page on your rights and justice options, but we will highlight the most common options below.

Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS)

FAS, formerly known as VoCAT (Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal), provides victims and survivors of violent crime with financial assistance to help them recover. It usually requires that the crime was reported to police, and there are time limits that apply depending on the offence committed against you.

Personal injury claim

A civil claim such as a personal injury claim means you’re seeking compensation from the person or organisation responsible for the abuse. It’s also about holding those persons or organisations accountable for their actions or failure to protect you. Many lawyers will operate on a No Win, No Fee basis for personal injury claims.

Restorative justice

Restorative justice is a different approach to criminal or civil justice. It can occur alongside or instead of some other forms of justice. It’s a voluntary process that brings together victims of crime and the people who committed those crimes against them in a structured format which allows the victim-survivor to address the person who harmed them, have their experience heard, and talk about the impacts of the experience.

National Redress Scheme (NRS)

The National Redress Scheme is for people who were sexually abused as a child while in an institution. This covers institutions such as; federal and state government departments, services, and schools; religious organisations such as churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and missions; education and care providers like non-government schools, foster care, orphanages, and group homes; and community and support groups such as sporting clubs, charities, and youth organisations like the Scouts.

Some key details about the National Redress Scheme:

• New applications to the NRS have to be submitted by 30 June 2027
• The program will be ending on 1 July 2028
• Payments from the NRS are capped at $150,000
• If you reject an offer from NRS, or let it lapse, you are unable to reapply to NRS
• If you accept a payment from NRS, you are unable to make a personal injury claim or receive any other compensation

Some of the options available to you mean that other options are no longer available. For example, if you accept redress via the National Redress Scheme, it stops you from bringing a future civil claim against the responsible institution.

Before accepting an offer under the National Redress Scheme, it is important to get legal advice.

Recent legal changes in Victoria mean victim-survivors may have more options than they realise, and these changes have made it easier for victim-survivors to access compensation and recognition.

Institutions can now be held responsible in more situations, including where the person responsible for the abuse was connected to the institution but wasn’t a formal employee, and where the care or supervision of children was handed over to someone else.

These changes matter for victim-survivors considering a civil compensation claim. Getting legal advice as soon as you can makes a difference in the options available to you.

We have extensive experience in pursuing abuse cases and can support you through the process by making it as simple as possible.

Our founding partner Peter Gordon brought the first mass legal challenge to the immunity that was once claimed by the Catholic Church and Christian Brothers’ Orders. This history continues to guide us, and we remain a law firm deeply committed to seeking justice for survivors.

Our experienced lawyers have extensive expertise handling sexual abuse claims involving religious institutions such as the Christian Brothers, Marist Fathers, Uniting Church, Anglican Dioceses, and the State of Victoria.

We are here to help you pursue compensation that can support you in the ways that matter most – whether it’s covering medical or related expenses, assisting if you’re unable to work, or seeking justice through the legal system.

We operate on a No Win, No Fee basis for abuse claims. If you submit an enquiry via our website, or call us on 03 9603 3000, you’ll be contacted to arrange a free phone call with our Senior Associate Daina Kyriacopoulos, who will be able to listen to your experience and advise you on your legal options.

We understand the sensitivity of these cases and treat every client with respect and empathy. Our team is committed to providing and safe an confidential environment for you to tell your story.

If this brings anything up for you, support is available. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000.