Gold Coast’s Currumbin Vikings Surf Club rocked by child sex abuse allegations

Two nippers under the age of 12 were allegedly abused – both under the same circumstances – when they were lured into bathrooms, away from their teammates.

TWO young nippers in separate incidents have allegedly been sexually abused at a Gold Coast club in shock new allegations confronting Surf Lifesaving Queensland.

The Bulletin understands the boys were younger than 12, and the allegations involve repeated rape after they were under the care of club members. The cases are not linked.

Shine Lawyers have confirmed the firm has two current matters against the Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club. An older claim against the same club has been settled.

Shine’s abuse law expert Kimberly Allen told the Bulletin: “At present, Shine represent two survivors of sexual abuse under the care of members of Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club while participating in the Nippers program in the 1980s and 1990s.

Currumbin Surf Club. Picture: Supplied

“In both matters there were instances of sexual abuse that occurred during overnight sleepovers at the club.

“The sexual abuse in both of these matters, despite being perpetrated by different individuals linked to Currumbin Surf Life Saving club, occurred when these clients were lured into the bathrooms and away from their teammates.”

In June, a Bulletin investigation detailed how children as young as 11 were party of a lengthy assault file which has led to compensation claims for millions of dollars.

The Bulletin understands the boys were younger than 12, and the allegations involve repeated rape after they were under the care of club members. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Legal sources and whistleblowers had revealed:

● SLSQ has settled claims of historical sexual abuse dating back to the early 1990s. Survivors are as young as 11, many of them teenagers under the care of club officials;

●Complainants are young boys and girls, some from Gold and Sunshine Coast clubs;

●Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman, who previously expressed “deep concern and dismay” about the claims of assaults, met with SLSQ general manager Dave Whimpey at Parliament House to discuss an internal review;

● Members feared a SLSQ review will be an anonymous survey and rushed before the next surf season;

●Lawyers wanted an independent review saying a survey was “simply not good enough”, and some members suggest a Commission of Inquiry is needed.

Whistleblowers have since complained to the Bulletin about the consultant survey saying they had “completed the survey and found it lacking” and it “could not uncover the deep-rooted culture issues the organisation has”.

Since the Bulletin’s reports, court documents in September were filed at the Townsville Registry of the Supreme Court alleging a then teenager was raped and sexually abused on multiple occasions at the Arcadian Surf Life Saving Club on Magnetic Island by an older member between 1993 and 1996.

SLSQ CEO Dave Whimpey, who isn’t accused of any wrongdoing personally, told the Bulletin he was aware of two most recent Coast historical sexual abuse allegations dating back to the 80s.

“I’m encouraged we have also now joined the National redress scheme to achieve two objectives – one to help clubs financially deal with historic matters,” he said.

“And two to give victims an alternate pathway in dealing with the matter. We encourage anyone who’s been a victim of any sexual harassment to come forward. As we know we have the systems and processes to deal with these matter efficiently and to truly help victims.”

The Bulletin has sent questions to SLSQ about the survey, asking what it intended to do with findings, and as a primarily government-funded emergency organisation whether it would be made public and provided to the state government.

The newspaper advised SLSQ whistleblowers had indicated they wouldn’t take part in the survey, had no faith in potential reforms being undertaken SLSQ bosses, and were concerned by participation rates.

A SLSQ spokesperson said: “Surf Life Saving Queensland will be publishing our reply to the independent Suiko’s Safe and Respectful Environments Review once the Board has received and reviewed.

“With 873 survey responses, multiple in market focus groups and one-on-one interviews, we deem the review statistically valid and were pleased with these rates.”

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