Brother Victor Higgs

Brother Victor Higgs was a member of the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. He entered the Jesuit order on 14 August 1963 and took vows on 15 August 1965. The “Independent Review into the Movement of Victor Higgs” commissioned by the Society of Jesus and written by the Honourable Marilyn Warren AC QC December 2019, shows that Brother Higgs worked at the following institutions during his time with the Jesuits:

  • Loyola College - Watsonia, Vic (approximately 1965 to 1967);

  • St Ignatius College - Athelstone, SA (1968 to 1970);

  • St Ignatius College Riverview - Lane Cove, NSW (1971 to 1981);

  • Campion College - Toongabbie, NSW (1982 - ?);

  • Xavier College - Kew, Vic (1980s to early 1990s); and

  • St Aloysius’ College - Milsons Point, NSW (early 1990s to 2000).

Brother Higgs left the Jesuits on 18 October 2001 after the Society received a formal complaint of alleged sexual abuse from a former student of Athelstone. Furthermore, the complainant suggested that he knew of other former students from the School who might make similar complaints.

In 2012, South Australia Police received its first complaint regarding Brother Higgs leading to the commencement of an investigation into Brother Higgs. During the course of that investigation, statements were obtained from multiple persons who had suffered abuse by Brother Higgs during his time at St Ignatius College in Athelstone. On 2 January 2013, Higgs was interviewed by Detective Senior Constable Orlovich and Detective Senior Constable Shibble of the New South Wales police, who were assisting with the investigation because Brother Higgs was then residing in New South Wales.

Brother Higgs was subsequently charged South Australia Police with three counts of indecent assault, although one charge was not ultimately proceeded with. Brother Higgs would sexually abuse the students under the pretext that he was monitoring and concerned about the underdeveloped physical nature of the boys who were aged between years seven and eight. These examinations would occur in various private locations including an office, the school canteen, or the sports changerooms. In the course of these examinations Brother Higgs would direct the boys to lower their trousers and he would look at and sometimes touch the boys’ genitals and buttocks. On 26 January 2016, Brother Higgs was sentenced in the District Court of South Australia to two and a half years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to two charges of indecent assault against two boys who were students at St Ignatius College in Athelstan. These offences occurred between 1968-1970.

In 2017, Brother Higgs (then aged 79) was charged with NSW Police for indecently assaulting a number of students during his time at St Ignatius College Riverview in Sydney in the 1970s. In October 2018, a jury of 12 in the Sydney Downing District Court unanimously found Brother Higgs guilty of 16 counts of indecent assault against six young males. He was sentenced to a term of 12 years’ imprisonment of which he is currently serving.

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