A former Sydney teacher cannot be held financially liable for engaging in sexual activity with four male students in the 1970s, after a judge found she could not be expected to have known her conduct would cause harm.

Helga Lam has always denied all wrongdoing and had previously pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen counts of indecent assault upon a male.

But a criminal prosecution collapsed in 2024 when the state's highest court ruled that the charge never applied to women.

Sexual assault support services:

NSW Health Sexual Assault Services

NSW Sexual Violence Helpline on 1800 424 017

NSW Victims Services on 1800 633 063

1800RESPECT national helpline on 1800 737 732

Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028

Bravehearts (support for child sexual abuse survivors

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