General News
24 July, 2026
Survivors invited to witness historic apology
Horsham will be one of five locations in Victoria where Parliament will formally apologise to victim-survivors of historical child sexual abuse in government schools. A statewide review identified Horsham Technical School among government schools named in civil claims or redress applications by multiple victim-survivors.
The historical event comes after the Department of Education commissioned the ‘Systemic Review into Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian Government Schools’.
The report found that about 15 per cent of Victorian government schools, and 29 per cent of secondary schools, operating between 1950 and 1999 were named in civil claims or redress applications.
Four other Wimmera schools — Dimboola Memorial High School, Dimboola Primary School, Stawell High School and Murtoa Secondary College — were named among the 403 Victorian government schools named in civil claims or redress applications.
On July 30, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will formally apologise to those affected by historical sexual abuse in government schools.
Community advocate and survivor Trixie Sampson said the day holds immense significance.
“July 30 is hugely significant,” she said.
“The upcoming formal parliamentary apology belongs entirely to the survivors, their families, and their loved ones who have carried the weight of the silence for decades.
“What happened in these schools was met with a deliberate lack of accountability.
“When the survivors tried to speak out, they were not heard, they were not believed, and their voices were actually silenced by the institutions meant to protect them.”
Ms Sampson said she hoped the event would help break the silence around abuse and strengthen advocacy, education and support.
She invited all local survivors to attend the live stream event on Thursday, July 30, at 11.30am.
“Survivors and their loved ones can witness this acknowledgement together,” she said.
“There will be professional wellbeing support on site, because this day will bring up immense emotions, and no one should have to face it alone.
“We need to take a better stance here in Horsham and actually create a platform where people can feel safe and heard.”
Ahead of the July 30 event, Horsham College acknowledged its historical connection through Horsham Technical School, which later became part of the college, and said it wanted to promote open and transparent discussions about child safety.
In a letter to the school community, principal Meg Woolford acknowledged the investigation would “trigger a range of emotions”.
She said the review would help the department learn from the past and better protect students.
“Schools are, and always should have been, a place where children deserve to be safe,” Ms Woolford said.
“It is deeply upsetting to think about any child being sexually abused at a school, no matter how long ago.”
The 85-page review said 195 departmental employees were identified in civil claims or redress applications, with about a third of alleged perpetrators named in multiple civil claims.
According to the review, only seven were recorded as having been dismissed because of child sexual abuse allegations.
The review found transfers, resignations and retirements often resolved immediate employment issues but did not address ongoing risks to children.
The review identified 482 victim-survivors across 483 civil claims and 293 redress applications.
Horsham Technical School and former music teacher Reginald Adrian Crick were among six case studies involving former staff named in settled civil claims by 10 or more victim-survivors.
The Department of Education review states that former Horsham Technical School music teacher Reginald Adrian Crick sexually abused former students during his employment between 1968 and 1988.
The department settled 11 civil claims relating to historical child sexual abuse involving Crick.
He was charged with child sexual offences in 1996 but died before the case went to trial.
Community supports
Lifeline: Phone 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14 or visit: www.lifeline.org.au.
Kids Helpline: Phone: 1800 551 800 or visit kidshelp.com.au.
13 Yarn: Phone 13 92 76 or visit: www.13yarn.org.au.
Rainbow Door: Phone 1800 729 367, text 0480 017 246 or email support@rainbowdoor.org.au or visit: www.rainbowdoor.org.au.
Sexual Assault Services Victoria: Phone 1800 806 292 (24/7) or visit: www.sasvic.gov.au.