Parents launch legal action over alleged child abuse at childcare centres

Parents of little girls allegedly raped or sexually assaulted by a childcare worker have begun legal action against the centres.

Parents of little girls allegedly abused by a childcare worker in Queensland have launched legal action against the childcare centres.

Families in Brisbane and Sydney have engaged law firm Slater and Gordon to seek compensation from the centres, claiming they breached their duty of care, the Courier Mail reported.

It comes after Australian Federal Police arrested a 45-year-old man who has been hit with more than 1600 charges including 136 counts of rape and 110 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10.

The Gold Coast man cannot be named until his case is committed to trial, under Queensland law.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough along with QPS Acting Assistant Commissioner Col Briggs hold a press conference to talk about a former childcare worker being charged with 1623 child abuse offences against 91 children. Picture Mohammad Alfares

The charges related to 91 victims from 10 Brisbane childcare centres, one Sydney childcare centre and an international centre.

Police alleged offending took place between 2007 and 2022, with the man accused of filming many of his crimes.

Police believe they have identified all alleged Australian victims but are still looking for potential international victims.

Queensland Abuse Law Senior Practice Leader Tiffany Marsh told the Courier Mail that in order to obtain compensation, victims must prove there was a duty of care between the child and the childcare centre, that the duty of care had been breached and that the breach resulted in damage or injury to the child.

“The terrible thing is, the parents are going to need to decide whether or not to tell their children they were abused, which is a huge burden to carry and an incredibly difficult situation to navigate,” she said.

“Abuse can have a devastating impact on the lives of not only those who have suffered it, but also those whose loved ones have been subjected to such ghastly treatment, by people who had been entrusted to look after them, which is why under the law, they may be entitled to compensation as well,” she said speaking generally.

Some of the alleged victims are now over 18 and have been spoken to by investigators.