00:02One morning, 46 years ago, Vonda Mathers went to school and came home forever changed.
00:08I lost my childhood. I became a very quiet little girl who was afraid of everything.
00:19In a place she was sent to learn, to grow, to be safe, she was subjected to two years of
00:25abuse.
00:26She was just nine years old.
00:27I don't think I will ever not be that little girl.
00:38That person took everything from me.
00:44Today, the Premier said to Vonda, along with dozens of other victim survivors and supporters,
00:49the words many never heard all those years ago.
00:52We believe you. We failed to protect you.
00:56We failed to listen. We are deeply sorry.
01:01The apology comes off the back of a systemic review released last week.
01:05It found abuse occurred in 403 Victorian government schools between 1950 and 1999.
01:11Victim survivors were mostly male, mostly 12 and under.
01:15The alleged perpetrators were also mostly male.
01:18And of the 195 accused, just seven were dismissed.
01:22The government says since 2000, a range of measures have been implemented, like working with children checks, designed to stop
01:29this kind of abuse.
01:30But one legal firm representing more than 700 former students says this is very much not just an issue of
01:36the past.
01:37They've received allegations of abuse said to have occurred as recently as 2024.
01:42This isn't a problem that's going away. It needs constant vigilance and a proactive approach to manage child safety risks.
01:50An apology met with applause.
01:53But an understanding there's still a long way to go.
02:03Thanks very much.
Comments