‘How were they left alone? These are very vulnerable children’: Shock at alleged sex assault
Police are investigating an alleged assault on a student at Diamond Valley Special Development School as a witness described yelling and screaming when they noticed what was happening.
Education
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A vulnerable student was allegedly sexually assaulted by another student at the launch of a northern suburbs specialist school’s $10m campus.
Victoria Police are investigating the Diamond Valley Special Development School incident, which allegedly involved a teenage student being forced to masturbate his 16-year-old classmate.
It’s understood the boys were sitting on an outdoor swing in a locked courtyard next to their classroom, but no adult was present.
A witness who allegedly saw the act take place told the Herald Sun there were “very important people being shown around” the school at the time.
“I saw what was happening with the boys and screamed and yelled for staff to come,” they claimed.
“Staff came running out and grabbed the boys and took them inside and then parents met with the principal. How were they left alone? These are very vulnerable children and they should not have been left unattended,” they said.
An initial meeting will be held on Monday between parents and staff, with other follow-up discussions expected.
The school was holding an open day to celebrate the opening of a new building, which included 10 classrooms, a library and specialist learning areas.
Dignitaries included Labor MP Vicki Ward, who helped lobby for the school to get the funding for the building.
Police confirmed they have received a report and the investigation is ongoing.
Diamond Valley Special Development School has been the site of a number of serious allegations revealed by the Herald Sun.
Other allegations include kids falling out of wheelchairs on multiple occasions and a student being assaulted on the bus while it was still at school.
“The student hit her, punched her in the face and left her with a blood lip and swollen mouth,” one parent said.
“He got to keep riding the bus but my daughter was too scared and so I drove her.”
Last month the school was criticised for failing in its duty to provide a safe learning environment for a 14-year-old female student who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a boy twice in 2024 while on school grounds.
Documents detailing the first incident claimed the girl was helping a friend when a male student inappropriately touched her twice without consent before allegedly trying to “coerce her into an empty classroom”.
A support plan was put in place to ensure the girl felt safe returning to school, but it didn’t prevent a second alleged sexual assault incident at a school barbecue.
Meanwhile, parents also raised concerns after a teacher at the school was allegedly operating an OnlyFans account.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said: “We understand this was a distressing incident for all those involved and we are offering wellbeing supports to impacted students and staff.”
The school claims it took appropriate action in line with policies and met the standard for supervision of students.
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