Former Cranbourne High School students who attended the school between 1980 and 1988 are encouraged to come forward with any information about historic sexual abuse which is alleged to have occurred at the school during the 1980s.
Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer John Rule said they are currently developing a case against the Department of Education and potentially the alleged perpetrator on behalf of one victim.
“We act for a client who was abused at Cranbourne High School,” he said.
“We are trying to connect with witnesses and potential witnesses who might have seen something at the school.
“We know there are at least two others who were affected themselves.”
Mr Rule helps survivors of abuse seek compensation from at-fault institutions and perpetrators and is trained in trauma informed practice, ensuring he works with clients to access justice in a way which recognises the complex trauma they have suffered.
“I do a lot of school abuse cases,” he said.
“There were students, teachers or parents who knew something.
“Those are the people that we are trying to connect with.”
Mr Rule claims the client was sexually abused during 1985 and 1986.
“Our client was sexually abused over a prolonged period,” he said.
“Our client’s case is ongoing.
“We’ve had a lot of people call in.”
Mr Rule said the case was set to be put before the Supreme Court in the coming months and would seek civil law damages.
“We make no apologies for that,” he said.
Mr Rule said sexual abuse often had a profound effect on someone’s life, spanning long after the period of abuse.
“It really has a devastating impact in that it undermines someone’s life,” he said.
“It can affect people differently.
“We often see a loss of confidence.”
Mr Rule said there are benefits for victims and witnesses who come forward.
“It can be a difficult thing to go through this process,” he said.
“They want to be private about these things.
“I feel like they get something out of it.”
A Department of Education spokesperson said: “We encourage anyone who has experienced any form of abuse as a current or former student at a Victorian government school to report it to both the Department of Education and Victoria Police, so that perpetrators can be held to account and victims can access the support they need and deserve.”
To provide information to the Maurice Blackburn case team, contact 8102 2082 or abuselawinfo@mauriceblackburn.com.au
For more information, visit mauriceblackburn.com.au/abuse
