Former Canberra Grammar School Staff Member Faces Historical Abuse Allegations

By Megan Gorrey
Canberra Times
May 11, 2016

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/former-canberra-grammar-school-staff-member-faces-historical-abuse-allegations-20160511-goslm5.html

A former Canberra Grammar School staff member is facing allegations of historical abuse involving a student.

The allegations are part of a civil matter and no criminal charges have been laid.

Access to a court file containing details of the alleged abuse has been restricted. Photo: Rohan Thomson

The staff member was employed in the senior school and left in the early 2000s.

Head of school, Justin Garrick, informed the school community of the alleged abuse in an email on Wednesday, saying he would not provide further details given the matter was before court and he wanted to protect the privacy and wellbeing of the former student.

The email did not contain any information on the employee's role at the Red Hill school or the nature of the allegations.

"While it does not involve any current students or staff at the school, I felt it important that you be aware, as legal proceedings may bring it to public attention and I know that such matters can call forward distressing emotions," Dr Garrick wrote.

The case was due to appear in the ACT Supreme Court for a brief mention on Tuesday but was delayed.

Fairfax Media requested access to details of the former student's claim, which are generally provided in historical child sexual abuse claims.

But access to the file was restricted and the claim was unable to be released.

The matter is now due to return to court on Thursday before Associate Justice David Mossop.

Dr Garrick spoke with senior school students at assembly on Wednesday but did not feel it was appropriate to raise the matter explicitly with primary school pupils.

"It is, however, a reminder for us to encourage all of our children to be vigilant, to understand their rights to privacy and to physical and emotional respect, and to be confident in raising any matters that worry them with their parents or teachers."

Dr Garrick encouraged students, former students, family members and staff with concerns to contact the school's counsellors, senior leadership team or chaplain.

He also pointed them towards the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn Support Hotline or ACT Policing's Operation Attest.

Dr Garrick wrote: "In any such cases, the school will, as it has in this instance, inform and collaborate willingly with authorities.

"We will also strive always to act with the highest care for the wellbeing our students, former students and their families."

Operation Attest was set up in response to the child sexual abuse royal commission to investigate allegations of historical sex abuse at ACT institutions in the 1980s.