❓ A parliamentary question addresses the Department for Community Development's handling of a state ward's sexual abuse, focusing on the minister's response to concerns and the department's knowledge of the perpetrator's history.
AnsweredQoN 656Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the state ward who was sexually molested by a piano teacher during 22 lessons paid for by the Department for Community Development between June and December 2004. (1) Did the grandmother of the teenage boy who was molested write to the minister in April 2005, raising her fears that someone was abusing him? (2) What action did the minister take to investigate the concerns raised by the grandmother? (3) Did the minister respond to the grandmother to the effect that investigations had been conducted and that there was no concern; and, if so, what was the date of that response? (4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(1) Did the grandmother of the teenage boy who was molested write to the minister in April 2005, raising her fears that someone was abusing him? (2) What action did the minister take to investigate the concerns raised by the grandmother? (3) Did the minister respond to the grandmother to the effect that investigations had been conducted and that there was no concern; and, if so, what was the date of that response? (4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(2) What action did the minister take to investigate the concerns raised by the grandmother? (3) Did the minister respond to the grandmother to the effect that investigations had been conducted and that there was no concern; and, if so, what was the date of that response? (4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(3) Did the minister respond to the grandmother to the effect that investigations had been conducted and that there was no concern; and, if so, what was the date of that response? (4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(1) Did the grandmother of the teenage boy who was molested write to the minister in April 2005, raising her fears that someone was abusing him? (2) What action did the minister take to investigate the concerns raised by the grandmother? (3) Did the minister respond to the grandmother to the effect that investigations had been conducted and that there was no concern; and, if so, what was the date of that response? (4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(2) What action did the minister take to investigate the concerns raised by the grandmother? (3) Did the minister respond to the grandmother to the effect that investigations had been conducted and that there was no concern; and, if so, what was the date of that response? (4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(3) Did the minister respond to the grandmother to the effect that investigations had been conducted and that there was no concern; and, if so, what was the date of that response? (4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(4) On what date did the department discover that the piano teacher had a previous conviction for indecent dealing, and on what date did the department determine that the foster child had been abused? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(1) The grandmother did write to the minister in April 2005 about the teenage boy. She stated that she believed there was an underlying reason for the boy’s troubled behaviour. She also stated that, because of his behaviour, she wondered whether he had been abused in care, in addition to the known abuse that he had suffered before being taken into the care of the Department for Community Development. The grandmother did not make any specific allegations about someone abusing the boy. (2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(2) In response to the grandmother’s concerns, the minister obtained detailed written advice from the Department for Community Development on the boy’s case and the considerable measures the department had been taking to assist the boy with his behavioural problems. The department, through the case manager and the psychologist, was attempting to engage the boy about his issues. (3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(3) No. The minister’s response acknowledged the grandmother’s concern about the boy’s behaviour and described some of the steps the department had taken to assist him. The response did not express the view that there was no concern. On the contrary, the response informed the grandmother that the department had been working intensively with the boy in an effort to stabilise behaviour in order to work on the issues driving his behaviour. (4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
(4) The department received information from another government agency in 1998. On 25 July 2005 the police were informed of the boy’s allegation and brought to the attention of the department the previous conviction. Following the completion of the police interviews with the boy, the department was advised by the police that the child had allegedly been abused on 25 August 2005.
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