Support for Survivors

Over the past few years, we have taken steps to better recognise and acknowledge the times when our students, and their families, have been failed, betrayed, and harmed – sexually, physically and/or emotionally – by some within our School community. We have gained valuable insights from the individuals who have bravely stepped forward to recount their experiences, when the time has been right for them.

We are committed to fully acknowledging the reality of our past and know that this is an essential step towards the creation of a better future for all Collegiate students – past, present, and future.

We are also committed to ensuring that survivors, as well as those that have suffered trauma, have multiple options for reaching out and finding support, suited to their own individual needs. To assist with this, we have engaged the services of an independent counsellor, Pauline Ryan. Pauline has worked with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse for almost 40 years.

If you would like to seek support, reach out or share anything please leave your Message Here. This link will take you to a form and it will be sent directly to Pauline Ryan only.

This service is funded by Collegiate, so that it is accessible to all members of the Collegiate community.

If you are aware of someone who is a survivor of historical child sexual abuse at the School who may not know of this service, you are encouraged to share this information with them. Alternatively, any former students and their families are welcome to contact the Principal directly on (03) 6211 4908 or principal@collegiate.tas.edu.au.

Pauline Ryan’s profile

For nearly four decades, Pauline has been a therapist specialising in supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Over the last 25 years, she has dedicated her therapeutic expertise to a Specialist Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital, where she works with children who have experienced sexual abuse or exhibit harmful sexual behaviours.

National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme (Scheme) was created by the Australian Government in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Scheme provides acknowledgement and support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse (CSA).

Collegiate joined the Scheme via the Anglican Representative (National Redress Scheme) Limited (ARNRSL) and the Minister for Families and Social Services made a declaration formalising the inclusion of Collegiate in the Scheme via ARNRSL, with effect from 29 March 2019.

The Scheme is an alternative to seeking compensation through the courts and can provide three things:

  • Access to counselling;
  • A payment (ranging from less than $10,000 through to $150,000 depending on the circumstances); and
  • A direct personal response from the institution (e.g. an apology) for people who want it.

Read more about the Redress Scheme or visit the National Redress Scheme Website.

Safeguarding Students and Children

St Michael’s Collegiate School is committed to the safety, wellbeing and protection of all students and children in our care. This commitment includes the provision of a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and requires all employees, volunteers and visitors to model and encourage exemplary behaviour that protects students from harm.

Collegiate has partnered with the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and achieved independent, national accreditation from the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) for the Safeguarding Children Program.

Read more about our commitment to the safeguarding of students and children.

Safeguarding Children Policies and Procedures.

Advisory Panel

The Board and Senior Leadership Team of St Michael’s Collegiate School are committed to recognising and supporting past students, and their families, who have been failed, betrayed, and harmed – sexually, physically and/or emotionally – by some within our School community.

In recent years, the School has been working to provide an authentic response to survivors and their families; as part of this response, the Collegiate Board and Senior Leadership Team are establishing an Advisory Panel to guide and support the St Michael’s Collegiate School response to survivors of abuse.

The formal title and terms of reference of the Advisory Panel will be finalised in consultation with Panel Members once this group is confirmed. The draft terms of reference follow:

1. Role and Responsibilities of the Advisory Panel

  • The Panel will provide a forum for the Collegiate School Board to seek advice on:

a) how resources, information and support can be tailored and targeted to Collegiate alumni survivors and their families, and

b) the ongoing development of effective education and awareness raising initiatives.

2. Governance

  • The governance and oversight of the Advisory Panel will be provided by the Board’s Governance and Risk committee, and the Advisory panel will be chaired by a Board Member on the panel.

 3. Power of the Advisory Panel

  • The Panel is an advisory body only and, as such, has no decision-making authority.

4. Composition of the Advisory Panel

  • The Panel will include approximately 4-6 volunteer Members – ideally, the combined expertise of the Panel Members will cover the following areas: alumni abuse survivors and their advocates, past students, past/current parents, past/current staff, representatives with professional/academic expertise in responding to individuals and families who are survivors of abuse and trauma.  Additional Members of the Panel will include Senior Leadership Team members, and Board representatives.
  • Members will be appointed to the Advisory Panel at the discretion of the Board for a term of two years and will be eligible to be reappointed for a further, and final, period of two years.

5. Chair

  • The Panel Chair will be a member of the Collegiate School Board.

4. Meeting Proceedings and Administration

  • The Panel will meet on a quarterly basis.
  • The Panel Chair may convene further meetings of the Panel if this is considered necessary.
  • As the Panel is an advisory body, issues submitted to the Panel for discussion will not be subject to any vote. As such, quorum requirements do not apply to meetings of the Panel.
  • The Panel will be established for an initial period of four years.

5. Conduct of meetings

  • Agenda items for the Panel meetings are determined by the Panel Chair in consultation with the Senior Leadership Team. However, Panel Members are encouraged to provide suggestions on topics or issues to be considered for future meetings, which can be considered by the Panel Chair and Senior Leadership Team when setting agendas.
  • Panel meetings will be held in person, subject to public health directives; when this is not possible, virtual meetings will be conducted. The location of in person meetings will be determined by the Panel in advance of the first meeting.

6. Confidentiality

  • Proceedings of the Panel will be confidential, and Panel Member will not divulge any details without the authority of the Panel Chair.
  • Advice and input provided by Members of the Panel will be treated as confidential by the Board and School.

Advisory Panel

The Board of St Michael’s Collegiate School has set up an Advisory Panel with a range of Collegiate community stakeholders to support this important initiative.  The Collegiate Board and Senior Leadership Team have now established this panel.

For queries relating to the Advisory Panel please contact the Principal’s office on 6211 4908 or principal@collegiate.tas.edu.au.