Victorian education head apologises for ‘catastrophic failures’ in protecting public school students from abuse

The head of Victoria’s education department, Jenny Atta, has apologised for its failure to protect children who suffered historic sexual abuse in government schools. Photograph: Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools

The head of Victoria’s education department has apologised for its “catastrophic failures” in protecting children who suffered historical sexual abuse in government schools.

Jenny Atta, the department’s secretary, appeared before an inquiry investigating allegations of child sexual abuse at 24 government schools during the 1960s to 1990s on Friday morning.