Sex claims lesson

IN an era of public relations, corporate marketing and media management, it can be tempting for big businesses to sweep their mistakes under the carpet.

When public perception is so important, many businesses prefer to keep their skeletons locked in the cupboard, lest they come out to frighten away current and prospective customers.

This is just as true in the highly competitive world of independent education, where any negative perception can be seen to be detrimental to enrolments — which can be a high price indeed at some of our elite private schools. Which is all the more reason to applaud the Geelong College for its front foot approach to dealing with claims of historic sexual abuse from former students.

The past few years have seen many sex abuse claims made across the education and clergy sectors, with Geelong schools featuring heavily in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse last year.

The shame and sorrow these institutions have felt has been put on display for the world to see, most often in the form of “loud fences” displaying ribbons as a show of support for sex abuse survivors.

Geelong College established its own loud fence and offered an unreserved apology for failing to protect past students in March this year. It also appointed an independent facilitator and therapist to offer a support service to adult survivors of sexual assault perpetrated by College staff while they were children.

These efforts have not only supported victims of historic abuse but, according to a letter sent to former students last week, have been instrumental in bringing new concerns to light.

Instead of sweeping these past indiscretions under the carpet, Geelong College has encouraged the sharing of information and discourse, which potentially means more perpetrators brought to justice.

It’s not always easy to own your mistakes, but as Geelong College has shown, it is the quickest way towards a healthy future.