Latest news with #AndrewVassel
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Wife who employed her sex offender husband at daycare centre is SACKED
The director of a daycare who employed her sex offender husband as the centre's maintenance man for almost a decade has been sacked. Andrew William Vassel, 45, was last week fined $2,000 for failing to tell authorities about his employment at a daycare in southeast Queensland. Vassel had worked at the Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre in Logan since he was hired by his wife as a gardener and maintenance man in 2018. He also dressed up as the centre's Christmas Santa, though Vassel has since claimed he doesn't recall the incident. Vassel's wife, 46-year-old Amanda Louise Vassel, was fired as the centre's director after her husband's criminal record came to light. The registered sex offender served eight months behind bars after he was found guilty of two child sex abuse offences in 2007. Following his release, he was subject to a reporting order for 15 years, which ended in 2023. However, police in June received a tip that Vassel had been working at the Beenleigh centre without reporting the employment to authorities. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Vassel offended against children at the centre. Andrew William Vassel was fined $2,000 after failing to tell authorities about his employment at Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre. He is pictured here as the daycare Santa He fronted Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday and was fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to two charges of breaching reporting obligations. Vassel claimed he didn't think he needed to report his work in a childcare centre to police as he only worked outside opening hours. Mrs Vassel was also charged with two breaches of child protection laws. She is set to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on August 19. The daycare owners last week said they had contacted all parents and staff to 'sincerely apologise for any angst this may have caused'. 'I was horrified to learn of his criminal history prior to his engagement at the Beenleigh centre,' the statement read. The owner confirmed they knew Vassel did not have a Working With Children Check, also known as a Blue Card, but believed he had no contact with the children. It's understood at least one parent has withdrawn their two children from the centre, which cares for roughly 50 kids. One disturbed mother said she felt 'beyond sick' that a predator had been employed by the facility. 'I hope they shut this place down and revoke any licensing or ability for her and her husband to ever set foot around children again,' she wrote online. A Queensland Department of Education spokesman said the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (ECRA) would investigate the incident. 'Approved providers and nominated supervisors have clear responsibilities under the legislation regarding who may and may not be at the service premises when care is being provided to children,' he said. 'Where steps are inadequate to ensure the health and safety of children, the ECRA does not hesitate to take robust and appropriate action, including prohibition and prosecution. 'Information about prohibition action cannot be published under the Education and Care Services National Law.
ABC News
21-07-2025
- ABC News
Childcare director who employed convicted child sex offender husband as gardener sacked
A childcare centre director who employed her convicted child sex offender husband to do maintenance and gardening has been sacked. Andrew William Vassel, 45, was last week fined in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court for breaching protection reporting obligations by failing to tell authorities about the work he was doing at the south-east Queensland centre. His wife, Amanda Louise Vassel, was stood down from her position at Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre and has now been fired. Since the revelation came to light, one parent has withdrawn their two children from the centre. Approximately 50 children attend the centre in Logan, south of Brisbane. The court heard on Thursday the convicted child sex offender, who was previously subject to reporting conditions, had also dressed up as Santa at a Christmas party some years ago, although he said he did not "recall" having done so. There is no allegation he offended against children at the centre. Queensland police last week said Ms Vassel had also been charged in relation to the incident. Ms Vassel has been contacted for comment. Vassel appeared before the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday last week, where he pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to his employment at the centre. New South Wales court records show Vassel faced trial in 2007 and was convicted on two child sex abuse offences. He spent eight months in prison. The court heard he had been a reportable offender for a 15-year period from 2008. Police in June had received a tip-off that Vassel, who the court heard was also a landscaper for Brisbane City Council, was working at the centre. The court heard he had told police he did not think he needed a Blue Card because he was only working outside of centre opening hours. However, the court heard witnesses told police they recalled Vassel dressing as Santa at a Christmas party. His lawyer, Rachel Carson, told the court Vassel had memory recall issues and "doesn't specifically recall" playing Santa, however "accepts the version of three witnesses". He was fined $1,000 for each breach. In a statement released last week, the Beenleigh Montessori owner said they had been aware Vassel did not hold a Blue Card but had not been aware of his criminal history. "I was horrified to learn of his criminal history prior to his engagement at the Beenleigh centre," the statement read. They said they were deeply saddened by the circumstances and apologised to all affected staff and parents. Vassel had been employed at the centre as a contractor, and at the time of his court appearance, had not done work at the facility for more than a month. A Queensland Department of Education spokeswoman said on Friday the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (ECRA) would be investigating the matter. "[The ECRA] is aware of this matter and will be undertaking an investigation, working closely with the Queensland Police Service," she said. "Approved providers have clear responsibilities under the legislation regarding who may and may not be at the service premises when care is being provided to children." Queensland police have been contacted for further comment.
7NEWS
21-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Montessouri childcare boss Amanda Vassel sacked after letting convicted child rapist work at centre in Beenleigh
A Montessori childcare director who allegedly allowed her convicted husband to work at her centre has been sacked. 7NEWS exclusively revealed Andrew Vassel, 44, was employed to do odd jobs at his wife's Amanda Vassel's daycare in Beenleigh, about 30 minutes south of Brisbane in Queensland, despite the fact he is a convicted child rapist and has no clearance to be around children. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Despite being a registered sex offender banned from working with children, Vassel was allegedly allowed on-site regularly and even donned a Santa suit during a Christmas event. Vassel was convicted in 2007 in New South Wales for sexual assault against a minor. He served eight months in jail and remains banned from child-related work. On Wednesday, 16 July, Andrew and Amanda Vessel, 46, were taken into custody at their residence in Logan, following the execution of several search warrants by detectives. Queensland Family and Child Commissioner Luke Twyford said cases like this show urgent change is needed. 'We need to make sure we act even before things reach a criminal threshold,' he said. From October 1, Queensland will roll out ten new child safe standards. A mandatory reportable conduct scheme will follow from July 1, 2026. 'If someone in charge of, say, an early day care center has a concern raised to them about one of their staff, they must immediately, within 24 hours, notify the Queensland Family and Child Commission, and they must commence an investigation into that concern,' Twyford said. Those who fail to report concerns could be fined $17,000, with a formal breach recorded against their organisation. 'That means we're slowly building a central database of all the concerns about a worker, and that we're having a closer look at any organisation where there are multiple concerns,' Twyford added. The disturbing revelations come as national concerns around childcare safety continue to escalate. Last month, Victorian educator Joshua Brown was charged with more than 70 child sex offences, including rape. Separately, a worker at a child care centre at Tingalpa was accused of abusing a four-year-old. Andrew Vassel has been charged with two breaches of child protection laws. Amanda Vassel faces charges for allegedly allowing the breaches to occur. She is due to face Beenleigh court on August 19.
7NEWS
18-07-2025
- 7NEWS
‘Sick to the stomach': Convicted child rapist allegedly worked around kids at daycare run by his wife in Queensland
A convicted child rapist has been arrested after police allege he was working at a daycare run by his wife. 7NEWS can exclusively reveal Andrew Vassel, 44, was employed to do odd jobs had been working at Montessori Early Learning Centre in Beenleigh, about 30 minutes south of Brisbane, Queensland, despite the fact he is a convicted child rapist. His wife Amanda Vassel is the centre's director. Despite being a registered sex offender banned from working with children, Vassel was allegedly allowed on-site regularly, even donning a Santa suit during a Christmas event. 'Parents are entitled to feel angry and sick to the stomach that their kids (may) have been in the vicinity of a convicted sex offender,' Hetty Johnston from Safeguarding People Australia told 7NEWS. 'This is not acceptable.' Vassel was convicted in 2007 in New South Wales for sexual assault against a minor. He served eight months in jail and remains banned from child-related work. Amanda Vassel, 46, is accused of knowingly allowing her husband to work at the centre. In earlier footage provided to 7NEWS, she proudly described the progress of children at the daycare. 'It's very rewarding just to see how far they can go,' she said. 'You've got two-year-olds washing up their own dishes. You've got four-year-olds who are writing their own names fluently.' The couple were arrested at their Logan home on Wednesday night after detectives executed multiple search warrants. The disturbing revelations come as national concerns around childcare safety continue to escalate. Last month, Victorian educator Joshua Brown was charged with more than 70 child sex offences, including rape. 'We should be able to trust the organisations that tell us that they're there to care for and protect our children,' Johnston said. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has flagged tougher consequences for centres failing to meet standards. 'If centres are persistently not meeting the sort of standards that mums and dads expect and that our kids deserve, then we've got to have the power to cut that funding off,' he said. Detectives said no children at the Beenleigh daycare have been identified as victims. But the allegations that a convicted child sex offender was present has sparked outrage. 'It's almost irrelevant whether something happened or didn't happen. Whether he's committed an offence or not,' Johnston said. Andrew Vassel has been charged with two breaches of child protection laws. Amanda Vassel faces charges for allegedly allowing the breaches to occur. She is due to face Beenleigh court on August 19.
