source : the age
A former student at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious private colleges claims he was subjected to brutal abuse as part of a hazing ritual in his tent during a school camp more than 50 years ago.
The 69-year-old man alleges he was abused as a student in the 1970s during a Scotch College school camp on Phillip Island.
The man claims there was a broader culture of hazing and bullying at Scotch College, with older students targeting younger pupils.
“[The man] alleges he was targeted by older students while in his tent at night and subjected to humiliating and degrading abuse,” said his lawyer, Joshua Bradhurst.
Slater and Gordon has launched legal action against the school and wants former students who were at Scotch in the late 1960s and early 1970s to come forward with any information about hazing or the camp.
The man had been just starting out his secondary education when the alleged abuse took place, Bradhurst said.
“The alleged abuse occurred as part of a hazing ritual at the camp. The harrowing experience has left our client with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and has had a drastic impact on his education and career pathways.”
However, the firm would not go into detail about what had happened during the alleged “hazing ritual”.
The legal action claims Scotch College operated the Cowes camp and was responsible for the supervision and care of pupils at the time.
Slater and Gordon allege the school failed to protect their client when it didn’t take reasonable steps to protect the boy and prevent bullying and hazing at the camp and on its grounds.
“Ultimately, we allege that the duty of care owed to our client was breached,” the lawyer said.
The school issued a brief statement when questioned about the allegations.
“Scotch College has zero tolerance for harm to students and takes any allegations seriously, including those of a historical nature,” a spokesperson said.
“As the matter is currently before the courts, we are unable to comment further.”
The case is one of hundreds before the courts with private, public and Catholic schools being sued by former students alleging physical, sexual or psychological abuse.
Another prestigious private school, Ballarat Grammar, was rocked by allegations of a culture of hazing, known as “strapping” among boys at its boarding houses, sparking litigation by families of alleged victims.
But lawyers from that school told the Supreme Court last year that the claims of hazing did not meet the legal bar for compensation.
The Age revealed in 2025 that police were called to the private school over an alleged series of assaults on junior boarders at the hands of senior schoolmates, with 10 students sent home over “strapping claims”.
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Caroline Schelle is an education reporter, and joined The Age in 2022. She previously covered courts at AAP.Connect via X or email.
