Responding to Allegations of Student Sexual Assault
The Victorian Government has launched comprehensive information for parents on how principals in Victorian government schools respond to allegations of student sexual assault.
The parents’ online brochure is in addition to a comprehensive manual for principals launched in August this year to strengthen responses to allegations by students of student sexual assault.
Responding to Allegations of Student Sexual Assault – procedures for Victorian Government Schools outlines the step-by-step process of how school staff must respond to an allegation or disclosure of student sexual assault.
Parents can be assured that schools have always had guidelines for principals on what to do when a student tells a teacher or principal that they have been sexually assaulted.
But with new principals and teachers coming into our 1,600 schools on a regular basis, the manual ensures they have an exact process to follow to ensure the student is immediately supported and protected.
The parent brochure includes information on the definitions of sexual assault, responsibilities of principals and teachers, actions to be taken and contacts of relevant departmental and external support agencies.
Parents, students and school staff can be confident that if an allegation of sexual assault is reported in a school, it will be dealt with in a timely and sensitive manner.
Although such incidents are infrequent and some principals may never have to respond to an allegation of sexual assault, the new guidelines ensure these processes are available for them to use if a situation did arise.
These procedures were developed after extensive consultation with the Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit, the Department of Human Services Child Protection, key government, education and child protection stakeholders, and Department of Education Regional Directors, Principals and Student Support Services officers.
Student safety in Victorian government schools is and has always been of the highest priority.
See: Critical Incidents