Katrina Munting comes forward to tell her story of abuse at the hands of former Rose Bay High teacher Marcus James Pollard

It was 22 years ago Hobart woman Katrina Munting was first sexually abused at the hands of one of her teachers. Now she has bravely come forward to tell her story as she considers legal action against the Education Department.

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KATRINA Munting survived sexual abuse at the hands of a teacher during her time at a public Hobart high school and has bravely come forward to tell her story.

Following recent changes to the Evidence Act, Mrs Munting has been able to give her consent to be named as a survivor of sexual abuse.

Her abuser, Marcus James Pollard, 63, pleaded guilty to persistent sexual abuse of a young person and was sentenced last month to three years’ imprisonment and had his name placed on the sex offenders register for four years.

He will not be eligible for parole until he has served 18 months.

Marcus Pollard leaving the Supreme Court of Tasmania, Hobart. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Pollard first targeted Mrs Munting, then Katrina Bolton, when he was teaching at Rose Bay High School and she was just 15 years old.

On Wednesday, she said she had been failed “dismally” by the public school system.

“I shouldn’t be standing here. The school system should have protected me,” she said.

“What made it particularly hurtful was when the school first realised Pollard was abusing me, I was blamed by the school for the criminal conduct and they did not make the abuse stop.”

Sexual abuse survivor Katrina Munting.

Twenty years after the abuse, Mrs Munting went to the police and she waited two years before justice was served last month.

“I am no longer Pollard’s victim, rather the survivor of the horrendous crimes he committed against me and the years of trauma manifestations I have lived with since,” she said.

“What Pollard did to me changed the course of my life, redefined me as a woman and changed my perspective forever.

“While his sentence cannot take away what he did to me, not repair the years of poor mental health, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life and will allow me to continue my journey of healing.”

Supporter Grace Tame with sexual abuse survivor Katrina Munting.

Mrs Munting said she was considered taking civil action against Pollard and also considering legal action against the Education Department.

“While my sexual abuse is deemed historic, don’t be fooled, current students in our educational institutions continue to be sexually abused,” she said.

“Despite the Royal Commission, the Tasmanian Government has announced they need to further investigate their policies and systems. Yet, all the while the abuse continues. 

“The state needs clear direction and policy that outlines precisely how suspicions of abuse and allegations of abuse are dealt with within schools. 

Sexual abuse survivor Katrina Munting speaks to the media, with her husband, Danny Munting (right) and supporter Grace Tame, left.

“The current mandatory reporting and actions made at the principal’s discretion clearly does not work. Perpetrators get shuffled around within schools, between schools, between public and private systems and students are not protected.”

A spokesman said the Education Department took allegations of child sexual abuse “extremely seriously and is strongly committed to ensuring safe, supportive and respectful environments for its learners.”

“The Tasmanian Government recently announced an independent review into the Department of Education’s systems and processes to ensure there are no gaps remaining in the approach to keeping students and children safe at school,” the spokesman said.