‘No need to tell police about sex abuse’: Geelong Grammar

By Rachel Baxendale
Australian
September 15, 2015

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/no-need-to-tell-police-about-sex-abuse-geelong-grammar/story-fngburq5-1227527154189?sv=d82f8df4724e5b599bdcf4f424c44124

Geelong Grammar School’s official guidelines on sexual assaults state they do not have to be reported to police, sparking a backlash from welfare experts.

Child sexual abuse experts yesterday condemned the exclusive school’s “Guidelines for a response to a claim of sexual assault”, which are published on the school’s website as part of its pastoral policies and were revised this year before the royal commission.

Under the heading “police involvement”, the guidelines stipulate: “If the assault has been by an adult, a report to police should be considered. It is not necessary to involve police if an incident is between students and the school and/or parents are taking appropriate action.”

The policy, written by school director of student welfare John Hendry in conjunction with the school’s chief medical officer, external experts and other members of the school community, also urges teachers to give alleged perpetrators the benefit of the doubt, until the facts are “shown to be clearly correct”, and warns that some allegations occur as a result of misunderstandings, while others are mischievous.