Territory Families failed to report alleged sexual abuse, disability royal commission hears

Territory Families, the NT’s child protection agency, failed to refer allegations of sexual abuse of an Indigenous child under its care to police for further investigation, an inquiry has been told.

TERRITORY Families failed to refer allegations of sexual abuse of an Indigenous child under its care to police for further investigation, an inquiry has been told.

It was one of several shocking revelations about Territory youth heard at the royal commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with a disability, amid a week long examination of the experiences of First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care.

The girl, referred to by the pseudonym Miriam, was under the care of the NT’s child protection agency for about nine and a half years, until the age of 13.

A week long examination of the experiences of First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care has concluded.

During that time, Miriam disclosed to two carers on separate occasions that she had been raped and inappropriately touched in her family home when she was younger.

Despite both carers raising their concerns to Territory Families over Miriam’s alleged sexual abuse, full details of the case were never disclosed to police, and no investigation was carried out.

“Territory Families was aware that serious allegation of sexual abuse of Miriam as a child had occurred, yet that is not noted here at all,” said Counsel Assisting Ben Power said referring to a 2013 police report, which was made in regards to “concerning” sexual behaviour displayed by Miriam in her foster care home. No further police action was taken on the matter.

“Because there was no investigation, the timing of it is unknown. Territory Families certainly never returned this issue to Territory police, separate from Miriam, to say, ‘Look, there’s this allegation of sexual abuse by an adult, as well as sexual behaviours by children of unknown ages in this named location’,” Mr Power said.

Territory Families Central Australia director Martina O’Brien conceded that Miriam did not receive appropriate counselling, after therapy sessions were cancelled after just two appointments.

Earlier in the week, in prerecorded evidence heard by the royal commission, an NT teenager recounted how Territory Families repeatedly placed him in unsafe environments from the age of five.

The youth, who is now an inmate at Don Dale youth detention centre, said he was bashed by his carers, was subjected to abuse, and had suicidal thoughts as an eight-year-old.

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