Predatory podcast: Actress Madeleine West joins Gary Jubelin investigating child abuse

Presented by actress Madeleine West and former cop Gary Jubelin, Predatory is an investigation into the shocking state of child sexual abuse in Australia. These were the big moments from 2023. Listen to the podcast.

Child sexual abuse is something that horrifies everyone - yet is a subject that few want to discuss.

The statistics are disturbing; so too are the ways paedophiles will target and groom their victims. In the vast majority of cases, the abuser is someone known to the child.

Predatory was presented by actor Madeleine West and former homicide detective Gary Jubelin spoke to survivors, experts and others who battle each day to keep children safe.

These were the big moments from 2023.

MADELEINE WEST REVEALS HER ABUSE

The former Neighbours star bravely spoke of when she was sexually abused as a young child for years by a “monster” who lived in the same town.

“I’m now seeking justice,” she said.

In breaking her silence for the first time, she hoped her story might encourage others to speak out and help put abusers behind bars.

“Anyone out there who is posting, watching or hurting a child, your time is up. The wheel is turning,” West said.

Predatory podcast hosts actor Madeleine West and Gary Jubelin. West used the Predatory podcast to reveal she was a survivor of child sexual abuse. Picture: David Caird

SUPER FOR SURVIVORS

Despite government moves to make paedophiles’ retirement cash available to their victims, some offenders could still keep their super nest egg.

South Australian lawyer Andrew Carpenter of Websters Lawyers said the changes were still not enough.

He argued victims/survivors who pursued civil claims should also be able to access the compensation, and to apply to the entirety of superannuation contributions.

“If this change is not implemented it will be the taxpayers who will continue to indemnify paedophiles for their heinous acts,” Mr Carpenter revealed.

Adelaide lawyer Andrew Carpenter is lobbying for changes to prevent paedophiles from being able to hide assets in their superannuation to avoid paying compensation to victims. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

CALL FOR SEX OFFENDERS REGISTRY

To establish a national register, the Commonwealth needs law and policy reform from all states and territories, because it would involve state police and agencies.

Despite money set aside for it, a registry has yet to be established.

The Labor Government said it was listening to experts for the best ways of keeping Australian children safe.

Adam Washbourne, the founder of Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia (FACAA), said the working with children check system was flawed and could be manipulated by people wanting to shield past crimes.

Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia founder Adam Washbourne.. Picture: Ryan Osland

LISTEN TO THE PREDATORY PODCAST HERE

HOW TO GET HELP AT YOUR WORST MOMENT

Non offending partners of paedophiles are thrown into a nightmare of their own.

Three quarters of those arrested on child sex offences have a partner — and more than half of them have children.

Australia currently lacks a national service to help these people.

“There is no script for what to do in such a situation. No one imagines that’s going to happen to them,” PartnerSPEAK CEO Natalie Walker said.

Ms Walker launched PartnerSpeak to help people like herself, who are left with no support when the world they know comes crashing down.

PartnerSPEAK CEO Natalie Walker discovered one day that her husband was a paedophile and now runs a group helping others in the same situation. Picture: David Caird

HOW PAEDOS HIDE ONLINE

Predatory revealed how paedophiles are using “sophisticated” security, including their own teams of IT experts, to keep their evil content hidden.

The child abuse rings structure themselves as slick business operations to evade detection from the prying eyes of police.

Cyber security expert Kirra Pendergast.

“What we’ve discovered with our long-term operation is quite surprising,” a covert investigator with the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, said.

Cyber security expert Kirra Pendergast revealed how vulnerable kids really are.

“Australians were rightfully freaked out over the Optus data breach … these parents were freaking out about losing 100 points of ID. Yet, they’re letting their children use social media before they’re 13 — and by the time they’re 13, there will be 72 million data points collected on them,” Ms Pendergast said.

WHAT MAKES PAEDOS TICK

Criminologist Dr Kelly Richards. Picture: Steve Pohlner

What makes paedophiles commit such evil crimes?

Experts who study them have found their deviant behaviour isn’t always driven by sexual pleasure – in many cases, it is revenge. And there is not a “typical profile” of a child sex offender. Queensland University of Technology criminologist Dr Kelly Richards, said she was constantly “baffled” by the reasons given for their behaviour.

“It’s ghastly, there’s no other way of explaining it,” Dr Richards said.