source : the age
A former student is suing the state of NSW after she was allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted by a teacher while at a public school in Sydney’s inner west.
The woman claimed she was ignored and her complaint dismissed when she reported the abuse to staff, allegedly causing the abuse to “significantly” escalate in its severity and violence.
The woman alleged the abuse occurred in plain sight on school grounds when the woman was aged 13 to 14 in the 1980s at Fort Street High School in Petersham, and lasted for around a year.
Representing law firm Slater and Gordon are on the hunt for information, calling for anyone with knowledge of the school or who may have knowledge of the abuse to come forward to help understand the extent of this teacher’s alleged behaviour and whether other children were impacted.
Senior associate Emily Clarke said the alleged abuse derailed the woman’s life. The woman, now aged 57, suffers from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and insomnia as a result of the alleged abuse.
“The experience has not only significantly impacted her mental and physical health, but it stopped her education in its tracks; she was left unable to fully pursue her academic goals,” Clarke said.
She is urging any witnesses of possible historic child sexual abuse and information from members of the public who attended Fort Street School in the early 1980s to contact the law firm on 1800 565 89.
“It is so important to speak with those who were at the school at the time period in question – even small observations may be important, and we encourage anyone who may have seen or heard something to get in contact,” Clarke said.
“Our priority is ensuring anyone with relevant information has the opportunity to provide it safely and confidentially with a trauma-informed legal professional.”
Fort Street High School is the oldest government high school in Australia.
It has signed up to the National Redress Scheme, which provides payments of up to $150,000, counselling and an apology from the responsible institution to survivors of sexual abuse where the abuse occurred before 2018.
A Department of Education spokesperson said it had the “highest standards” for employees.
“If anyone has information about historical allegations of abuse, they should contact the Department of Education and report the allegations to the police,” the spokesperson said.
“[We] will not hesitate to take any action required.”
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse found it took survivors on average 24 years to tell someone they had been sexually abused as a child.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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Amber Schultz is a crime and justice reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
