Ian Perry promoted to Barwon Downs principal despite child abuse allegations

A teacher was promoted to principal of a school despite being accused of child abuse. Now, his victims are fighting for justice.

This man survived abuse at the hands of a pedophile school principal and is now taking legal action. Picture: Alison Wynd

A teacher who was later convicted of child sex abuse was promoted to principal, despite the education department allegedly being made aware of concerns about his behaviour years earlier.

Ian Perry was hired as principal at Barwon Downs Primary School, near Colac, in 1991.

It was the ninth school he was employed at before he was convicted of child sex abuse in 1994, which occurred both at that school in the 1990s and Myrniong Primary School near Bacchus Marsh the decade prior.

Arnold Thomas and Becker lawyer Aleksander Dukovski said the Education Department was aware of allegations concerning Perry’s behaviour with students as early as 1981 when a complaint was made by a concerned mother.

“The complaint was investigated and dismissed but a police report was never raised,” he said.

“He continued to abuse children even after he was transferred to other schools, eventually becoming the principal of Barwon Downs Primary School.”

Ian Perry pictured in 1981.

James, not his real name, was in year one at Barwon Downs Primary School in the early 90s when he and several other classmates were sexually abused by their then-principal Ian Perry.

At the time he received just $3000 in compensation and weekly counselling.

“Talking to a six-year-old that’s had that happen … it wasn’t enough,” he said.

Only now is he now taking legal action against the department, inspired by seeing other survivors of Perry come forward.

“I wasn’t after compensation until I was made aware that he had been moved around schools and it was covered up,” James said.

“Anyone that knew what he was doing and covered it up is just as guilty as Perry.

“That is a blatant act of corruption and collusion and it’s bloody wrong.”

James said the government should have known better.

“We were the last school,” he said.

“If someone had believed any of the kids we would never have been abused.”

This man survived abuse at the hands of a pedophile school principal and is now taking legal action. Picture: Alison Wynd

James said he had since built a life he is proud of, with his wife and kids, but rehashing this trauma had been “bloody hard”.

“I spent years burying it, and digging it up caused a lot of pain,” James said.

Mr Dukovski, who is representing James, said in 1992 a victim’s mother complained to numerous persons working within the department of education, including speaking with and writing a letter directly to senior officials.

“She was reassured that she did not have reasons to be concerned about Perry’s behaviour and was advised that Perry had been spoken to in relation to his actions,” Mr Dukovski said.

Mr Dukovski said Perry was allowed to remain teaching in his position for a eight months before being charged in 1993 and convicted in 1994 for abuse against five victims between about 1981 to 1993.

He said the firm had successfully resolved four cases in relation to Perry, with a combined settlement of more than $3.6m, and was currently looking for any witnesses.

In 1993 Barwon Downs Primary merged with another school.

The state government announced last week it would establish a statewide independent truth-telling process, to hear the experiences of victim-survivors of historical sexual abuse at all government schools prior to 2000, in response to the recommendations made by the Beaumaris Board of Inquiry.

Originally published as Ian Perry promoted to Barwon Downs principal despite child abuse allegations