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ARTICLE · 29 APRIL 2025

Institutions can be vicariously liable for sexual abuse

Stacks Law Firm
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Recent cases in Australia demonstrate that institutions can be vicariously liable for sexual abuse.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Alessandra Pettit
Alessandra Pettit
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Victorian government pays $8 million settlement to sexual abuse survivor

Recent cases in Australia demonstrate that institutions can be vicariously liable for sexual abuse.

In 2024 a survivor of sexual abuse by a teacher at a Melbourne primary school was awarded an $8 million settlement against the Victorian Education Department, in what is believed to be the largest publicly known compensation payment to an abuse survivor in Australia.

The survivor was among many students abused by the teacher in the 1960s and 70s while authorities turned a blind eye.

The survivor fought for decades to bring the abuser to justice, but the teacher died while awaiting trial. The government settled the survivor's claim a week before the case was due to reach Victoria's Supreme Court, the ABC reported. (Please see Beaumaris Primary School sexual abuse survivor reaches record $8 million settlement with Victorian government, ABC News, 10 October 2024.)

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