THE MOTHER of a little girl she claimed was sexually assaulted by her classmates in a Ballarat school says she is living a “nightmare” due to the school’s lack of action in protecting her daughter.
The woman said the incident occurred in February when her daughter was targeted by a group of boys in the playground and touched inappropriately.
However, she said the school took days to notify her and has since not taken disciplinary action against the boys who assaulted her daughter.
The mother said none of the boys had been suspended, and only one of the boys she knew about had been moved to a different class.
She also said the school had questioned her daughter about the sexual nature of the attack without informing her.
“What type of education are these children getting? And what kind of supervision are they getting in the yards?” she said.
“Why is a six or seven-year-old girl in a position where she cannot get away from three or four boys in the yard?
“She is currently in counselling, but it is to the point where my daughter is so petrified about going out in the yard at recess because she’s so scared the boys are going to get her again.”
She said her child had not even told her about the attack due to threats from the boys that they would get into trouble.
The woman said her child was now an “emotional wreck”.
She said her daughter was now in counselling, and she had employed a solicitor.
“It’s kept quiet and I do worry about all the other little girls there. I’m living my worst nightmare,” she said.
“I’m angry, I’m so upset. I’ve sat on this for months and I just keep coming back to – what about all of these other little girls?”
Education department spokesman Alex Munro said all students deserved to feel safe at school.
“The school took the allegations extremely seriously and after preliminary inquiries the school notified the parents,” he said.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations the school also reported the matter to police and relevant agencies.”
Mr Munro said the Education Department would investigate ways to prevent future attacks.
“The department is working with the school and the families to review the response to the incident, and see whether any processes can be strengthened in the future,” he said.
