CHELSEA Heights Primary School has been included in the scope of an investigation into alleged historical child sexual abuse at government schools.
In June this year, an inquiry to allegations of historical sexual abuse committed at Beaumaris Primary School and other government schools was set up. The inquiry was formed at the request of the state government.
The board of inquiry is investigating claims of sexual abuse involving multiple staff members at Beaumaris Primary School during the 1960s and 1970s. Last week the board of inquiry announced it had expanded its investigation from 18 schools to 24 – Chelsea Heights Primary School, Cowes Primary School, Drouin South Primary School, Kunyung Primary School, Warragul Primary School, and the closed Bundalong South Primary School will be included in the investigation.
Three former teachers at Beaumaris Primary School have been named as alleged perpetrators by the inquiry – Gary Arthur Mitchell, Grahame Harold Steele, and David Ernest Keith MacGregor.
Board of Inquiry chair Kathleen Foley SC is encouraging victims to step forward to help the inquiry find more information. “We will continue to identify alleged perpetrators and the schools in which they worked to enable victim-survivors’ participation in our inquiry and to put their experiences on the public record,” she said. “I thank every person who has come forward to make a submission or participate in a private session. I am humbled by your strength, courage, and openness to contribute to our work.”
“It is vital to us that every individual has the chance to share their experiences. We recognise that, for many, this may be their first time sharing their experiences, and we acknowledge and respect the significance of this. We will work with individuals to ensure their participation in this Inquiry is supported and safe.”
Other schools already included in the investigation include Aspendale Primary School, Belvedere Park Primary School, Cranbourne Primary School, Dandenong North Primary School, Dandenong West Primary School, Hampton Primary School, Moorabbin Tucker Road Primary School (now Tucker Road Bentleigh Primary School), the closed Moorabbin West Primary School, Mount View Primary School, and Ormond East PS (now McKinnon Primary School). The inquiry’s submission deadline is 31 October.
To make a submission visit beaumarisinquiry.vic.gov.au
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 10 October 2023