Childhood centres wary of raising sex abuse concerns
A review of system responses to child sexual abuse is underway in Queensland following the jailing of one of Australia's worst pedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith, who was given a life sentence after pleading guilty to hundreds of offences.
The review has found that early childhood organisations prioritise their reputation, and fear defamation and legal risks, over raising concerns about potential child sex offenders - especially if complaints aren't substantiated.
Griffith was given a non-parole period of 27 years in 2024 after he pleaded guilty to 307 offences, including ongoing sexual abuse and making child exploitation material, against 65 victims aged one to nine, beginning in 2003.
He pleaded guilty to 28 counts of rape against girls primarily aged three to five at childcare centres in Queensland between 2007 and 2022.
Griffith is appealing his life sentence on the grounds that it was manifestly excessive.
The Queensland review found that more than one complaint was made about Griffith to his employers, Queensland Police and the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority.
Prior complaints to police did not proceed to prosecution, which meant that up until Griffith's arrest in 2022, there were no pending investigations, charges or convictions against him.
He also met all of the requirements to obtain and maintain a working with children check.
The review comes as Australia is again reeling after a Melbourne childcare worker was charged with more than 70 sex offences against toddlers and babies.
The charges laid against Joshua Dale Brown, 26, relate to eight victims aged between five months and two years old, who were enrolled at a childcare centre in Point Cook in Melbourne's west between April 2022 and January 2023.
Brown has worked at about 20 facilities since 2017, and health authorities are urging the parents of 1200 children to get them tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution.
The Queensland review has recommended that a national reportable conduct scheme and national working with children check system should be implemented to "increase the visibility of perpetrators who move across jurisdictions to avoid detection".
Other findings include that complaint processes are unclear at Queensland's early childhood centres and are "particularly problematic" when the accused holds a senior role.
The review also found that more action is needed within the police force to identify and respond to potential risks posed by offenders when criminal proceedings are not undertaken due to a lack of evidence.
The Child Death Review Board - which is part of the Queensland Family and Child Commission - is set to hand down its final findings later this year.
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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
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