Latest news with #BeenleighMontessori
Daily Mail
a day ago
- 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 It's understood at least one parent has withdrawn their two children from the centre, which cares for roughly 50 kids.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
5 days ago
- ABC News
Child sex offender pleads guilty to gardening at childcare centre where his wife worked
A convicted child sex offender — who failed to tell authorities he was doing maintenance and gardening work at a south-east Queensland childcare centre where his wife was a director — has been fined. The Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that Andrew William Vassel accepted witness accounts that he had played the role of Santa at a Christmas party at the Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre south of Brisbane, 'but doesn't specifically recall' doing so. The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to breaching his reporting obligations under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) Act by failing to report his employment at the centre. There is no allegation Vassel offended against children at the centre and Queensland police say they have not received any reports in relation to the centre. The centre's operators have been contacted for comment about the case, which was first reported by 7 News. The court heard that Vassel, who appeared via video link, had been convicted of offences in New South Wales and had been a 'reportable offender' from February 2008 for a 15-year period. New South Wales court records show Vassel faced trial in 2007 and was convicted on two child sex abuse offences. The court heard on Thursday police received a tip-off in June this year that Vassel had been employed at the Beenleigh Montessori since 2018 as a gardener and maintenance worker – a job he told police he had been offered by his wife, the centre manager, Amanda Vassel – but had not reported those details to authorities. The court heard Vassel, who is also employed by the Brisbane City Council as a landscaper, had told police he hadn't reported the job because he was receiving cash in hand. He'd also told police he only did the work on weekends or on public holidays when children were not present because he "knew he was not allowed to work with children", the prosecutor said. 'When questioned whether he required a blue card, he stated he had done his research and as long as he worked on weekends and not when the children were present during the week, he did not require one," his lawyer Rachel Carson said. However, the court heard that witnesses had said he'd played the role of Santa at a past Christmas party at the centre. 'When questioned, the defendant stated he did not believe it was him and does not recall ever playing the role of Santa. He stated he definitely knew he would get in trouble with the police should he even do that,' the prosecutor said. His lawyer told the court Vassel had memory recall issues and 'doesn't specifically recall' playing Santa, however 'accepts the version of three witnesses'. Vassel, whose reporting obligations expired in 2023, was fined $2,000, with convictions recorded. In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Michael O'Driscoll said he took into account Vassel's plea of guilty and his lack of previous criminal history in Queensland. 'It is quite common for me to sentence people to imprisonment for this type of offending, so a fine is the most appropriate for your circumstances today. I think I'm more than influenced by the fact your reporting obligations have now expired,' Mr O'Driscoll said. A Department for Education spokeswoman said the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (ECRA) will 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. "Where steps are inadequate to ensure the health and safety of children, the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority does not hesitate to take robust and appropriate action, including prohibition and prosecution. "The department is not able to comment further on matters under investigation." The incident follows an unrelated case where a childcare worker was charged with the indecent treatment of a four-year-old child at a different Brisbane facility last week. Affinity Education Group, which runs the centre where the 21-year-old Cleveland man worked, has confirmed he was stood down once the allegations came to light and his employment has since been terminated. In a letter sent to parents, the centre confirmed it was committed to "being transparent within the boundaries set by police". "Police have advised they will be in direct contact with any families who may have been impacted," it read. Speaking on Friday morning, Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said communities expected to be kept safe. He said he was personally supportive of calls for a public child sex offenders register. "Our government will do whatever we need to do to ensure our children are safe," he told reporters. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, on Thursday said the government had been working to strengthen regulation in the sector. "Something [had] to change," Mr Crisafulli said. "We are going to make sure that the blue card system works again. "We're going to have a proper commission to make sure that these kinds of things don't keep occurring time and time again." He said a fast-tracked reportable conduct system was being worked on, and a commission of inquiry was also looking at what could be done. A spokeswoman for Mr Langbroek's office said on Friday she was unable to comment on the matter. The ABC has contacted Ms Vassel for comment.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Paedophile spotted dressing up as Santa at Beenleigh daycare centre
A convicted paedophile banned from working with kids has been arrested after he was spotted wearing a Santa suit at a daycare centre. The NSW man, 44, was employed to carry out odd jobs at Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre, where his 46-year-old wife served as director. The man was convicted in 2007 of sexually abusing a child. He served eight months behind bars and was prohibited from engaging in any child-related work. In a shock twist more than 15 years later, the man was arrested at his home in Logan, in Brisbane 's south, on Wednesday night. He pleaded guilty to two child protection breaches and was fined $2,000. Police confirmed there have been no reported incidents at the Beenleigh centre. The centre's owner claimed they were unaware of the man's criminal past. In one photo from the daycare, the man was seen dressed in a Santa Claus costume, complete with white gloves, beard and hat. It comes after a 21-year-old man has been charged with indecent treatment of a child at a Brisbane childcare centre owned by embattled provider Affinity Education Group. Police said the alleged offence involved a four-year-old child and occurred on July 10 at a facility in Tingalpa. The Cleveland man has been charged with one count of indecent treatment of a child. Affinity confirmed the man had been stood down after the matter was reported to police. The provider is already under intense scrutiny following the arrest of Victorian childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, who faces 70 charges of child abuse. Brown had worked at multiple Affinity centres across Melbourne. Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the recent cases highlighted the urgent need for reform and stronger national safeguards. 'The Coalition stands ready to work constructively with Labor to enact stronger childcare policies,' she said. 'The states also need to step up.' In response, Education Minister Jason Clare is set to introduce new legislation that would allow the federal government to cut funding to non-compliant centres. The new laws would also empower anti-fraud officers to carry out unannounced inspections without a police presence or warrant.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- News.com.au
Child sexual offender caught working at Queensland daycare
A man convicted of sexually abusing a child has faced court in Queensland, after he was caught working at a daycare centre run by his wife. The 44-year-old NSW man appeared in court on Thursday. He was employed at Beenleigh Montessori Early learning Centre, carrying out odd jobs, 7NEWS reported. His wife, 46, was the director at the centre. The man was convicted of sexually abusing a child in NSW in 2007. He spent eight months in prison, and is banned from working with children. On Wednesday night the man was arrested at his Logan home. Police said there have been no reported incidents at the Beenleigh centre. The 44-year-old faced court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to two child protection breaches. He was fined $2000. The owner of the centre said they did not know about the man's criminal history. In a different case, a man has been charged with indecently treating a child at a Brisbane childcare centre run by embattled provider Affinity Education Group. The 21-year-old Cleveland man was charged earlier in July, the Queensland Police Service confirmed on Thursday. 'It is alleged the offence involving a four-year-old child occurred at a Tingalpa child care facility on July 10,' police said in a statement. The man has been charged with one count of indecent treatment of a child. The centre is owned by Affinity, which also employed alleged pedophile Joshua Dale Brown at several centres across Melbourne before his arrest this year. In a statement, the company said it had stood down the Cleveland man after reporting the matter to the police. Sussan Ley says the Coalition 'stands ready' to work 'constructively' with Labor to enact stronger childcare policies and called on the states to 'step up'. This comes after Victorian childcare worker Joshua Brown, 26, was hit with 70 child abuse charges. In a separate incident on Wednesday, a 21-year-old Queensland man was also charged with indecent treatment of a child at a Brisbane childcare centre. Speaking from Moreton Bay, Queensland, the Opposition Leader said parents 'don't have the confidence' or the 'faith and trust' in centres to look after their children and keep them safe. 'Our children are precious and it is disgusting and unacceptable that these incidences have taken place, and it makes me feel physically sick every time I hear of something,' she said. 'It's our young children and babies who are at risk in childcare centres with these hideous individuals on the loose.' Education Minister Jason Clare is set to introduce new legislation that will allow the Commonwealth to pull funding from centres that are not complying with standards and allow anti-fraud officers to undertake snap investigations without a warrant or police presence.
