A female teacher, Helga Lam, is facing accusations of molesting four boys during her tenure at a Sydney school in the late 1970s. Lam, who taught languages, was arrested in 2021 for alleged historical child sexual abuse. However, in July, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed the charges, citing that the relevant laws from the 1970s, which were repealed in 1984, only applied to male abusers.
The four former students subsequently initiated civil proceedings against the New South Wales government, leading to a settlement of $2.5 million in damages, as the state acknowledged its failure to protect the students. Now, the state is pursuing Lam in court, seeking to hold her partially responsible for the settlement payments.
Lam denies any sexual interactions occurred, asserting that even if they did, societal norms of the time did not prohibit her relationships with students. In the NSW Supreme Court, the state’s barrister, David Lloyd SC, argued that teachers engaging in sexual relationships with their students was still deemed inappropriate in the 1970s, asserting that Lam had a duty of care that she breached. He described the allegations as credible, asserting there was corroborative evidence supporting the claims.
The claims indicate that the abuse included sexual acts in various locations, including the staffroom and during school events. One student reported being told to escape through a window after being discovered in sexual activity with Lam. Additionally, Lam allegedly made inappropriate comments to students and intimidated them, leading to bullying incidents on the playground where they were pressured to remain silent about the abuse.
Concerns about Lam’s behaviour were raised by another teacher who reported witnessing Lam with a student in a compromising position, but the school’s response to the complaint was inadequate, with no proper investigation being conducted. Lloyd argued that had the school properly addressed the allegations, further abuses could have been prevented.
Lam contests her financial liability concerning the settlement, questioning the rationale behind the amounts awarded. Lloyd contended that she should bear a significant portion of the settlement costs due to the severity of her actions, which he described as a serious breach of the standards expected from a teacher.
The proceedings are set to continue in court, with implications for both Lam and the New South Wales government as they navigate the outcomes of these historical allegations. Support resources for those affected by abuse are also highlighted.