Nearly 40 former students take legal action over alleged abuse at Geelong schools

James was just 12 when a priest allegedly repeatedly sexually abused him at a Geelong school. He is one of dozens of people taking legal action against schools across the region. SEE THE LIST

James who is opening a claim over alleged sexual assault which occurred at a Geelong school in the 80s.

Dozens of former students are taking legal action over alleged sexual abuse suffered at schools across the Geelong region.

The alleged offences occurred across private and public schools, from the 1960s to as recently as the 2010s.

There are currently 35 victims taking legal action with law firm Arnold, Thomas and Becker for alleged sexual abuse at 13 local schools, including nine at boys’ school St Joseph’s College Geelong.

Shine Lawyers is helping James, who was a year 7 student at now closed St Mary’s Technical School Geelong when he was allegedly repeatedly sexually abused by a teacher in 1986, seek justice.

He said he would come home from school daily and hide under a train set with a kitchen knife, plagued with thoughts of plunging it into his own heart.

“These priests didn’t pick kids from well to do families, they were predators who picked the kids from broken homes because no ones going to believe them,” he said.

“I knew it was happening to other kids.”

James is opening a claim over alleged sexual assault which occurred at a Geelong school in the 80s.

James, who now lives on the Gold Coast and did not want his surname published, was just 12 at the time and didn’t tell his family or any authority figure for years, scared to be blamed for the alleged abhorrent acts.

“I tried to a few times,” James, who has since moved away from Geelong, said.

“I want to say bringing this up now is helpful, but you’re revisiting it all again, something you buried deep down, it’s not easy.

“The only time you think about it is when you see a priest and watch the news or wake up to a nightmare.”

The alleged perpetrator has since died but James,now in his 50s, still wants an apology.

“I was a tiny little boy, they need to take responsibility for what they did to a tiny human being,” he said.

“I don’t care about the money, I’ve got a house, I’ve got a nice car, but that’s not important, it’s more about bringing it to light … (and getting) an apology from the church.”

A spokeswoman from the office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne said allegations, no matter where they occurred within the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese, were taken seriously and addressed with due process and pastoral care.

Shine Lawyers is also pursuing another claim against St Joseph’s College Geelong over alleged sexual abuse.

A survivor of childhood sexual abuse at the school was awarded upwards of $1m in a milestone settlement in April after a witness came forward.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said no-one should suffer the harrowing, lifelong and devastating impacts of abuse.

“We encourage anyone who has experienced any form of abuse as a current or former student at a Victorian government school to report it to both the Department of Education and Victoria Police so that perpetrators can be held to account and victims can access the support they need and deserve,” she said.

In response to the numerous cases of sexual abuse at government schools in the region, the department participates in the National Redress Scheme.

The scheme provides access to redress in the form of counselling, monetary payments and direct personal responses for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse without the need to engage in litigation.

The department considers all claims of historical abuse and encourages victim-survivors to come forward.

If you need help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Originally published as Nearly 40 former students take legal action over alleged abuse at Geelong schools