- Published:
- Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 3:30 pm
The Forum for Truth and Recognition closed on 18 March 2026 and is no longer taking enquiries for personalised sessions and submissions.
We now turn our attention to developing a report that reflects the voices and experiences of the people who came forward.
Since October 2025, I have travelled and connected with people in-person, online, by telephone, email, and letters to hear their experiences. I have heard from people residing across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria, interstate, and abroad.
I would like to thank everyone who has participated in the Forum. I acknowledge that it takes strength and courage to speak up and share such deeply personal and challenging experiences. I hope sharing your experience with the Forum has contributed to your healing journey.
I would also like to acknowledge the people who reached out but were not ready to share their experience or whose experiences were outside the scope of the Forum’s Terms of Reference. I recognise the courage it takes to revisit and speak up about experiences that have had a lasting impact on your life.
Support is always available
If you experienced child sexual abuse in a Victorian government school and did not get the opportunity to participate in the Forum, we encourage you to visit the Victorian Department of Education(opens in a new window) website for former students.
You can access old school records, seek support and explore options for reporting historical child sexual abuse.
I also encourage you to visit our Support and wellbeing(opens in a new window) page to find available free support services for people who have experienced different types of abuse and affected family, friends, and community members.
The final report
The Forum's final report will be delivered to the Premier of Victoria in mid-2026. Any further updates about the report will be published here on our website.
I look forward to delivering a report that will assist the Victorian Government and the wider community to consider how we listen and learn from the past and build a way forward.
We all envisage building schools that are free from abuse where children can safely thrive and grow. I hope the voices of the people who came forward are heard and contribute to Victoria building a stronger response to child sexual abuse in schools now and into the future.
Yours sincerely,
Angela Connors
Chair of the Forum
Updated