8chan/8kun QResearch AUSTRALIA Posts (4)
#16543916 at 2022-06-28 10:21:06 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #23: HOUSE OF CARDS Edition
>>16543912
2/3
'He'll make too much of a fuss'
Ms Pearn said she couldn't fully remember which representative or representatives from HR attended the meeting, but believed it was likely Gino Fratangelo and maybe James Bellinger, and they seemed to have "come prepared".
Ms Pearn said she told HR that Griffin had sexually abused her and her friend, and that she believed he was a risk on Ward 4K.
"They said things like 'we have looked into him ... he has been on the ward too long'.
"They said things like 'he will make too much of a fuss if we move him', they told me he was an ANMF (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation) member or rep," she told the inquiry.
Ms Pearn said she got the strong sense that the responsibility was back on her, and that the hospital wouldn't do anything about Griffin unless she got a conviction or put her name to her complaint.
"I thought I had given them information that they would take seriously and act on.
"There was no follow-up whatsoever ... I don't believe it was taken seriously."
No explanation for lack of action
In later evidence, Ms Pearn's manager, Stewart Millar, told the inquiry that he was almost certain that two HR representatives had been at the meeting and that they were James Bellinger and Gino Fratangelo.
The inquiry heard that Mr Fratangelo did not recall being at the meeting.
Mr Bellinger gave evidence later in the day that he did not work at the hospital until 2012, did not recall attending the meeting, and did not believe it was possible that he did.
He told the inquiry that he learned about Ms Pearn's report in 2019, and the fact there had been no action taken.
Counsel assisting Elizabeth Bennett asked him if he had taken any proactive steps at that point to make the hospital safer.
Mr Bellinger said he had not, and that he could not explain why.
Ms Pearn said she and her friend spoke to police but did not go through with trying to have Griffin charged, partly because of fear on her part and because she was unsure of the likelihood of a conviction.
"I made a promise to myself that if anyone else ever came forward, I would 100 per cent follow through and have him charged."
'I felt fobbed off' by Peter Renshaw
In 2019, Kylee Pearn started hearing rumours that other people were coming forward about Griffin, and went to Tasmania Police.
"I wanted to stop him and keep other children safe, as well as support another person who had come forward."
She said the police process and the detective she dealt with were "fabulous", but her subsequent dealings with the National Redress Scheme were not trauma-informed and involved "horrendous" questioning.
Around the same time, Ms Pearn said Griffin's abuse was starting to gather media attention, and she decided to tell the hospital's director of clinical services, Dr Peter Renshaw, about her 2011 disclosure to the hospital's HR team.
"He was very dismissive, didn't really want to spend a lot of time on the phone to me," she told the inquiry.
"I didn't get any concern from him, I felt quite fobbed off."
Ms Pearn said she had a phone conversation with the then Health Minister Sarah Courtney, who "appeared concerned", and Tasmania's Commission of Inquiry was announced the next day.
Griffin was charged with offences relating to Kylee Pearn, and others, in 2019.
He was bailed and died by suicide that year before he could be tried.
(continued)
#14965336 at 2021-11-10 08:33:42 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #19 - THE ONLY WAY IS THE MILITARY Edition
>>14965328
Tas school staff investigated over abuse
Ethan James - 10 November 2021
Three public school staff in Tasmania are being investigated over historical sexual misconduct following an inquiry that revealed the state education department shielded pedophiles and disbelieved students.
The report, released on Tuesday, found serial child sex abusers were allowed to continue working for decades as concerns, complaints and ineffectual responses "literally piled up".
It found when handling child sex abuse claims the education department was primarily concerned with protecting itself from legal, financial, and reputational risks, particularly in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.
The state Liberal government, which commissioned the independent inquiry in August 2020, has pledged to implement its 21 recommendations.
Answering questions from the Labor opposition in state parliament on Wednesday, Education Minister Sarah Courtney said the department had begun several code of conduct inquiries.
"Five code of conduct investigations have commenced for alleged historic sexual misconduct as part of the secretary's work, with employees being suspended for the period of the investigation," she said.
"Two of the code of conduct investigations have now concluded with there being no evidence of sexual misconduct by the employees in question. Their employment has recommenced."
The state government only released 12 pages of findings and recommendations from the 93-page report, citing a "range of concerns and legal impediments".
The full report was obtained by the ABC under right to information laws, although parts are redacted.
The ABC reports the inquiry found there are 41 current department employees with "some record of concern", with 21 of those individuals requiring a more detailed review and possible further investigation.
"It is deeply concerning Ms Courtney refuses to say whether all 21 people identified in the report as requiring a more detailed review or possible further investigation are still working in Tasmania's schools," Labor leader Rebecca White said in a statement.
"The fact that there are still children falling through the cracks in our education system, child protection system and youth justice system should be a matter of the highest priority for this government."
Ms Courtney reiterated an apology to survivors and those affected, describing the revelations in the report as deeply confronting.
The report found the department routinely deflected or ignored concerns, disbelieved or blamed students and shielded alleged or known sexual abusers.
"We saw many examples of parents and others, including teachers and principals, actively but ultimately unsuccessfully opposing the decisions of (the department) to transfer known abusers to a new school."
The report comes amid a broader royal commission-style inquiry into the Tasmanian government's handling of child sex abuse claims in public institutions.
It was launched after contemporary child sex abuse allegations were levelled at Ashley Youth Detention Centre workers and a nurse was charged with a range of offences.
It is set to hold public hearings in February and March next year.
The report has recommended better student safeguarding policies and record keeping, plus greater teacher training around mandatory reporting.
https://thewest.com.au/news/crime/tas-school-staff-investigated-over-abuse-c-4502516
#14965328 at 2021-11-10 08:32:12 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #19 - THE ONLY WAY IS THE MILITARY Edition
Tasmanian Education Department shielded paedophiles, disbelieved students, inquiry finds
Alexandra Humphries - 9 November 2021
The Tasmanian Education Department's predominant response to child sexual abuse complaints has for decades been to ignore students, shield abusers and protect itself from legal, financial and reputational risks, an inquiry has found.
The Tasmanian government has released the findings and recommendations from an independent inquiry into responses to child sexual abuse in government schools announced last August, prior to a commission of inquiry being established.
It was conducted by professors Stephen Smallbone and Tim McCormack, who made 20 recommendations, which the government has fully accepted.
The full report was handed to the government in June, but not been made public due to legal impediments.
The professors said that across the 1970s, 80s and 90s, the department's primary responses to allegations "routinely involved deflecting or ignoring concerns and complaints, often by disbelieving or blaming students, and by shielding alleged or known sexual abusers."
"We have found it deeply disturbing that, as concerns, complaints and ineffectual responses literally piled up in DoE's records, serial abusers like Harington and LeClerc were not just allowed to keep teaching for decades, but that DoE leaders and others so wilfully disregarded the obvious risks and harms to students," the professors said.
Darrel George Harington, who was a teacher and sports coach at New Town High School, was found guilty of historical child sexual offences last year.
The department knowingly moved him between Hobart schools.
The department also shifted paedophile teacher and former priest Anthony LeClerc between schools in the north-west.
"We cannot explain this by assuming that 'that's just the way things were back then', because the evidence in DoE's own records shows that DoE officials very often acted in ways that were completely at odds with community expectations at the time," the report's findings say.
'Recent' examples of students not being believed
They said while the culture and leadership of the Education Department have since changed for the better, there were residual cultural problems, and "very recent" examples where students' concerns and complaints had been assumed to be untrue.
The professors said they were unable to determine whether the incidence of sexual abuse in Tasmanian government schools had declined, increased or remained stable over the last five or six decades due to problems with record keeping.
They recommended the urgent implementation of a complete record of all sexual abuse concerns, including both substantiated and unsubstantiated incidents that could be regularly analysed to monitor patterns and trends.
The report recommends a range of new measures around safeguarding students, and that the University of Tasmania's education courses be updated to include content on understanding, preventing and responding to sexual abuse in schools.
'Uncertainty' over who should call police
The report found there was "significant uncertainty" amongst schools principals and student support staff about who should notify Tasmania Police about allegations, and in what circumstances.
Tasmania's Education Department has apologised to victims and survivors of abuse in schools, and said it was fully committed to making schools safe.
Education Minister Sarah Courtney said she shared the Department's deep sorrow and regret about the experiences of some Tasmanian students.
"The stories and experiences that have come to light are deeply concerning and confronting," she said.
"However, I'm also really pleased that we did commission this report, we did so that we can continue to progress positive steps forward to safeguard our children.
"We found there are a lot of matters raised that aren't acceptable.
"To those Tasmanians that contributed to this report, and others in the community that have been impacted by abuse within the Department of Education, I am deeply sorry."
The full report has been provided to the commission of inquiry.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-09/tas-tasmanian-education-department-shielded-paedophiles-inquiry/100606012
—
Independent Inquiry into the Tasmanian Department of Education's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
https://www.education.tas.gov.au/students/school-and-colleges/safeguarding-children/independent-inquiry-into-doe-responses-to-child-sexual-abuse/
https://publicdocumentcentre.education.tas.gov.au/library/Shared%20Documents/DoE-Inquiry-Final-Report-Main-Findings-and-Recommendations-2021.PDF
#11099437 at 2020-10-16 06:27:32 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #10 - INFORMATION WARFARE Edition
>>11063089
Tasmanian government investigating how alleged pedophile James Griffin went undetected
Alleged pedophile paediatric nurse James Griffin has been condemned by the Premier who supported the Health Minister's calls for another investigation into how the abuse went undetected for 28 years.
When asked whether a formal inquiry would be forthcoming Premier Peter Gutwein said, "further steps will be considered in due course, following the completion of the review".
Health Minister Sarah Courtney labelled the allegations "absolutely appalling" and said she was disturbed by them.
When Griffin was charged in October 2019 the Tasmanian Health Service stood him down and Ms Courtney said "an investigation was then undertaken".
"We are making sure that this matter is examined fully. I have asked the secretary to make sure that the matters around this both currently and historically are reexamined to ensure that Tasmanians can have confidence," Ms Courtney said.
"There is nothing more important than the safety of our children."
Ms Courtney said she had asked the health secretary to ensure the support offered to staff at the Launceston General Hospital was maximised.
"The secretary and I are committed to ensuring that these matters are taken extremely seriously," Ms Courtney said.
"Any patient or member of staff who has any concerns regarding a staff member's behaviour are encouraged to come forward, and I have been assured all matters will be properly examined and all appropriate support provided."
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmania branch secretary Emily Shepherd said the ANMF was unaware of the allegations until after Griffin was deceased.
Ms Shepherd said the investigation was a positive step and was confident the investigation would restore the confidence of ANMF members and the public.
"The information I have from the secretary of health is there will be robust measures taken," Ms Shepherd said.
Labor spokeswoman Rebecca White said, "it is incredibly concerning that this behaviour continued for so long without it being properly investigated and this person being removed from the workplace".
National sexual assault support: 1800 RESPECT, Laurel House (03) 6334 2740 (Launceston), (03) 6431 9711 (Burnie and Devonport), Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) on 1800 697 877.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6971107/investigation-but-no-inquiry-into-child-sex-allegations/