Abuse survivor’s mum warned school of pedophile’s conduct but was told not to worry

The mother of an abuse victim warned the Education Department about her son’s principal, but was told not to worry.

A mother warned the education department when she suspected her son was being abused by his school principal, now-convicted pedophile Ian Perry. Her son “Jack”, now an adult, pictured. Picture: Jason Edwards

The mother of a boy abused by pedophile principal Ian Perry at a school near Colac wrote to the Education Department expressing concern over his “inappropriate behaviour” but was told not to worry.

Janet Smythe, not her real name, wrote a letter in September 1992 outlining the “seemingly inappropriate behaviour of the head teacher” at Barwon Downs Primary School — now-convicted pedophile Ian Perry.

The complaint letter outlines concerns that her young son reported having to go to the principal’s office for a “private assessment”, tickling, and the boy’s “very obvious behaviour change.”

Correspondence seen by the Geelong Advertiser shows a department official assured her Perry had been “visited” and the issues she raised had been discussed, with “advice” given to Perry concerning “his future actions”.

He kept teaching until mid-1993, when reports began to be made to police about his conduct with numerous other students.

In 1994 Perry was convicted of child sex abuse.

Ian Perry pictured in 1981.

Ms Smythe said she had been left feeling a frustrated and powerless for those “gut wrenching” months before Perry was arrested.

She said the department was comfortable with what was done despite the “significant information” she provided without even being aware her child had been abused.

“It was a two teacher school and Perry was the head teacher,” she said.

“Alerting the school was not an option.”

Ms Smythe’s son only disclosed the abuse when questioned by police after Perry had been arrested.

The department did not contact her after he was arrested, despite her warning it about Perry.

Lawyer Aleksandar Dukovski speaking to the client. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Smythe’s son Jack, not his real name, said the abuse he experienced at five left him unbalanced and defensive throughout life.

“It gave me a twisted-up flight and fight response,” he said.

At the time the victims received as little as $3000 in compensation.

Jack said he recently considered the National Redress Scheme, created in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission, but felt “uncomfortable” with the framework, which would likely not have given him more than $50,000.

Arnold Thomas and Becker lawyer Aleksandar Dukovski, who represented Jack, said he was recently able to obtain more than $550,000 in compensation.

Barwon Downs was the ninth school Perry was employed at before he was convicted of child sex abuse in 1994, with a complaint reportedly made in 1981 by another concerned mother.

He was convicted of child sex abuse that occurred at Barwon Downs Primary in the 1990s and Myrniong Primary School near Bacchus Marsh the decade prior.

Mr Dukovski said he was aware of at least six victims of Perry, having already represented four victims and still calling for witnesses.

A Department of Education spokesman said victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse were profoundly let down by the school system, reflected in the report of the Beaumauris Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse covering 1960-1999.

“The way in which the department responds to allegations of sexual abuse has changed considerably since the 1990s and we encourage all victim-survivors to come forward, so perpetrators can be held to account,” he said.

He said all nine recommendations made following the Board of Inquiry report into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools had been accepted.

Originally published as Abuse survivor’s mum warned school of pedophile’s conduct but was told not to worry