Former AFL player Josh Hill has been stood down from his role as a youth co-ordinator at a key Victorian Indigenous body after being charged with child sex offences.
The First Peoples’ Assembly confirmed it had taken immediate action and severed all ties with the 36-year-old former Western Bulldogs and West Coast player as soon as the allegations of child sexual abuse came to light.
Former AFL player Josh Hill playing for the Eagles in 2015 in Perth.Credit: Getty Images
“We have been informed of a matter involving serious interstate criminal charges relating to an employee,” a spokesman for the assembly said in a statement. “We are very concerned about this news. The employee has been stood down immediately. We were not aware of these charges until now.”
Hill was appointed as a youth voice co-ordinator for the First Peoples’ Assembly in February 2023.
The alleged child sex offences are said to have occurred in Western Australia in 2015 and 2016.
Hill was charged by police recently and appeared in a West Australian court on Saturday.
A spokeswoman for the Western Australia police force confirmed Hill was arrested in WA on Friday by officers from the abuse squad in relation to an outstanding arrest warrant.
“It will be alleged the man [Hill] committed child sexual offences against a female child between 2015 and 2016,” the spokeswoman said.
On Monday, the WA Magistrates Court confirmed to this masthead that Hill, who has recently gone by the surname Carter, had been charged with four counts of sexually penetrating a child aged over 13 and under 16. He also faced three charges of indecent dealings with a child over 13 and under 16.
A spokesman for the First Peoples’ Assembly said all staff had been informed.
“The assembly is committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe and is safe participating in our work and events,” he said. “Whilst we are not aware of any information impacting on the assembly’s work, we will thoroughly monitor and review the situation as we consider how best to support our communities.
“We do not intend to comment in the media any further at this stage while the legal process runs its course.”
Hill played 173 AFL games and kicked 226 goals over 11 seasons. He played for the West Coast Eagles in the 2015 AFL grand final.
He recently signed a contract with the Point Cook Football Club. The club said on Monday that Hill had been stood down as a senior player and had his contract rescinded.
“The Point Cook Football Club’s executive were yesterday made aware of developments and met this morning in relation to senior men’s player Josh Hill including that he has been charged by Western Australian Police with offences that are now before the courts,” the club said in a statement.
“This is a very serious matter and it is being treated as such by the club.
“Josh Hill has been stood down as a senior player and we have rescinded his playing contract and his transfer from his previous club has been cancelled.”
Get alerts on significant breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.