The Supreme Court of Victoria has ordered The Geelong College to pay a former student more than $2.7 million in damages for historical child sexual abuse, the highest amount ever awarded in an institutional abuse case in Australia.
The victim, who cannot be named, was groomed and repeatedly assaulted by Bert Palframan, a volunteer in the school's woodworking department, in the 1980s and 1990s. Justice Stephen O'Meara found the school breached its duty of care to the student, as it had received a warning in 1987 about Palframan's inappropriate behavior but failed to act.
The abuse began on campus at the school's House of Guilds, where Palframan was allowed to use facilities despite never producing any work. It later extended to the victim's home after Palframan befriended the boy's parents. The school argued it was not liable for off-campus abuse, but the judge rejected this, stating the grooming was a direct result of the school's negligence.
The Geelong College has faced multiple abuse scandals, with three former staff convicted of child sexual abuse in past decades. In 2018, the school held an apology ceremony and maintains a website section for abuse survivors. However, the victim's lawyer, Michael Magazanik, criticized the school for putting his client through a traumatic two-week trial.
The victim, awarded $2,717,236.25, said he felt vindicated and hoped the outcome would encourage other survivors to come forward. The school's council chair Richard Page expressed sincere apologies, acknowledging the institution's failure to protect the student.
