Geelong High School abuse survivor sues state

She suffered horrific sexual abuse at the hands of her English teacher. It “derailed” her education, and much of her life. Now she’s speaking up.

The surviour of sexual abuse (not pictured) at Geelong High School said she felt ‘failed by the school’ following the abuse.

A sexual abuse survivor has sued the state after she suffered at the hands of a former teacher while a student at Geelong High School.

The woman, who was abused by then English teacher Luke Joseph Martin, said school leaders needed to look out for signs students were being preyed on.

Martin pleaded guilty at the Geelong County Court in July 2023 to more than seven counts of sexually penetrating a child aged 16 or 17.

He also pleaded guilty to the production of child abuse material and viewing child abuse material.

Martin begun communicating with the student via messages on a school system, later moving to a mobile, where he exchanged about 44,000 messages, including 5408 sexually explicit videos and voice recordings.

The survivor, who declined to be named, said she felt failed by the school and had no access to pastoral or counselling where she could disclose the abuse she was was suffering.

She said she believed some teachers at the school had “inklings” about what was happening - and that both a cleaner and two librarians raised concerns before the truth came to light.

“I want schools to look out for the signs,” she said.

“For people to take these things seriously and not brush it under the rug.

“To them I was just another girl wanting attention.”

Luke Joseph Martin pleaded guilty to sexual offences against a 16-year-old girl. Now she is finally speaking up. Picture: Supplied

The ex-student said she would have immediately told the school if she had felt able to.

“I felt like I couldn’t tell anyone, like no one would believe me,” she said.

“My trust was in these adults.

“They’re meant to care about my wellbeing but instead I was dismissed and seen as someone seeking attention.

“Just because I needed extra support at school, doesn’t mean I deserved the abuse.”

She said the abuse had had completely devastating affects on her self-worth.

“I don’t feel like me anymore,” she said.

Arnold Thomas and Becker lawyer Taylah McWilliams, who acted for the woman, said

the case suggested the Department of Education had not done enough to ensure children were safe from teacher abuse.

“It unfortunately reveals that despite all the work done to address institutional abuse it is still happening in our schools,” she said.

Ms McWillians said the client was incredibly intelligent, and had been tracking to achieve high academic results at school and even hoped to pursue a career in medicine.

“The horrific abuse she experienced has completely derailed her study plans and ability to cope with day to day life,” she said.

A Department of Education spokesman apologised to anyone who was impacted by child sexual abuse at government schools.

“No one should suffer the harrowing, lifelong and devastating impacts of abuse,” he said.

He said anyone who experienced any form of abuse as a current or former student at a Victorian government school should report it to both the department and Victoria Police.

If you need help call 1800RESPECT.

Originally published as Geelong High School abuse survivor sues state