Guildford: AVO withdrawn against childcare worker

An AVO against a childcare worker accused of abusing a four-year-old boy under care has been withdrawn and she has been permitted to return to her western Sydney workplace.

An AVO against a woman was withdrawn at Parramatta Local Court today.

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An AVO has been withdrawn against a childcare worker accused of abusing a boy at a Guildford childcare centre after an Education Department investigation found insufficient evidence — but his mother has vowed to continue fighting for him.

The mother of the boy, who has special needs, found out last month the Education Department would allow the woman to return to the centre after concluding its investigation but only discovered today that the police would not continue investigating the matter.

Cumberland police took an apprehended violence order out against the accused woman in late October after anonymous calls to CrimeStoppers claimed abuse.

Police documents showed the alleagations included forcing the boy to sit on the ground by pushing him down and making him sleep by holding his eyes closed and held his tongue out of his mouth saying “it is the only way he will learn’’.

Granville police initially took an AVO against the childcare worker.

The abuse allegedly occurred daily and involved claims the woman yelling at him mostly in Arabic, pulling him by the arm and dropping him on the couch.

The woman was not charged but ordered not to assault or threaten, stalk, harass or intimidate the boy, or recklessly destroy or damage any of his property as part of the interim AVO conditions.

However, in a letter to the boy’s mother on November 19, Education Department investigator Paul Silvester said there was insufficient evidence to prove the educator harmed her son.

“During the investigation I spoke to all the staff who work at the centre and I reviewed their CCTV,’’ he said.

“I interviewed the service management and reviewed their records.’’

The letter said the woman sometimes used a voice “that was too loud” but there was no evidence to support allegations of physical abuse put forward by another worker.

Mr Silvester said the woman had been spoken to about her voice being too loud and would be permitted to return to work.

“I know you will be disappointed with this outcome,’’ the letter said.

“Please be assured that we investigated this matter very thoroughly.’’

The AVO matter was withdrawn at Parramatta Local Court today.

Outside court, her lawyer Fadi Abbas, said there would be no criminal conviction against the woman.

The boy’s mother said she would write a letter to police inquiring about the matter.