Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (18:55): (2792) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education regarding the rise in harmful sexual behaviour between students in Victorian schools and the need for stronger protections to keep our children safe. The action I seek is for the minister to outline what additional measures the government is implementing to prevent harmful sexual behaviour in schools, improve early intervention and ensure students receive appropriate support when incidents do occur.

Figures obtained through freedom of information reveal that Victorian state schools recorded 2645 concerning incidents of a sexual nature between students between January 2023 and August 2025. Alarming incidents increased across primary schools, secondary schools and P–12 schools, with more than 800 incidents recorded in the first eight months of 2025 alone. Even more troubling is that hundreds of these incidents involve children under the age of 10. What should concern every member of this house is not only what some 10-year-olds are doing today, but what they may be doing in five years time if these behaviours are allowed to continue unchecked. A child involved in such harmful sexual activities at the age of 10 is at risk of becoming a repeat and more serious offender as they grow older. That is why intervention must occur early, with clear consequences, strong family support and effective rehabilitation to break the cycle before it becomes a lifelong pattern of offending. Raising the age of responsibility to 18 instead of 14 is definitely not the answer. Experts have warned that these figures are likely to only include a fraction of the true number of incidents that occur across schools. Researchers have raised concerns about the growing influence of harmful online content, sexual harassment, exploitation, image-based abuse and other forms of gender-based harmful behaviour among young people.

Parents rightfully expect their children to be safe when they go to school. Schools must not only respond appropriately when incidents occur but also have the resources, training and support systems to help identify risks early and prevent harm before it occurs. This issue goes beyond individual incidents. It is about creating a safe learning environment, supporting victims and ensuring schools are equipped to deal with the increasingly complex challenges facing young children today. I ask the minister: what additional action has the Carroll government taken to address this rise in harmful sexual behaviour in schools to ensure that every child in Victoria can learn in a safe and supportive environment?