Vulnerable kids stay with foster carers accused of physical, sex abuse

Child protection authorities won’t remove two kids living with foster carers accused of horrific abuse of 12 ­Aboriginal children.

Northern Territory police are examining the alleged rape by a foster carer of a 15-year-old mentally impaired girl in 2005. Picture: Che Chorley

Child protection authorities in the Northern Territory will not remove two vulnerable children living with a pair of foster carers accused of committing horrific sexual, physical and emotional abuses against 12 ­Aboriginal children over 16.

The alleged abuses include hitting kids with metal bars, padlocking them in their rooms and calling them “black c..ts” who smelled. Police are only now examining the alleged rape by one carer of a 15-year-old mentally impaired girl in 2005.

Her complaint was among three related sex-abuse claims that authorities mishandled even though in the girl’s case, she tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection while having a contraceptive device inserted at about the same time.

The shocking claims — some of them substantiated by the very agencies overseeing foster care — were uncovered in an ­investigation by NT Children’s Commissioner Colleen Gwynne, launched in response to allegations of abuse in care in 2018.

“Our investigation into this case revealed a 16-year history of systemic failure to adequately review the suitability of carers, conduct quality standard-of-care checks and thoroughly examine allegations of child abuse,” Ms Gwynne said.

“These findings show that there is still a lack of rigorous oversight, co-ordination and accountability to produce quality safety assessments and out-of-home care placements for vulnerable children and young people.”

According to Ms Gwynne’s 48-page report, the two foster carers — one of them described by a child as a “creepy old f..k in a grannie flat with teddies everywhere” and the other by a case worker as “largely sedentary” and unable to climb stairs — sometimes looked after up to seven children at once, the youngest three months old.

Foster children described having sex with each other and were allowed to visit family environments where sex abuse allegedly occurred. Authorities failed to investigate claims the foster carers hid sticks used to beat the children in the house where they all lived.

Territory Families Minister Dale Wakefield said Ms Gwynne’s report documented mainly historical incidents and that her government was incorporating all its 14 recommendations into ongoing reforms.

“What is detailed in this report is abhorrent,” Ms Wakefield said.

“It’s clear that historically … there was poor practice within the department … as a government, we’ve worked very hard to invest in our child protection system to make sure we are getting the best possible outcomes for our young people.”

She confirmed that two “nearly adult” children remained with the foster carers.

A Territory Families spokeswoman said the children’s choice to remain there had been “a significant factor” in its decision to allow the pair to continue working as carers.

“Re-authorising the carers also meant the agency could continue to monitor care arrangements,” the spokeswoman said.

“Authorisation of the carers will be terminated when the ­remaining young person in their care turns 18 years of age. They will not be considered for future placements.”

Ms Gwynne’s report found Life Without Barriers, the NGO that recruited the foster carers, did not keep proper records, while other agencies failed to do police checks or examine contradictory claims they made about their careers and relationship.

The female carer in 2011 received an excellence award from the government even as fresh allegation emerged about her conduct and the male carer inappropriately sharing a bedroom with three foster boys. In 2013, she faced court on domestic violence ­charges.

Between 2015 and 2018, child protection agencies conducted six investigations into physical and emotional harm against various children in the pair’s care.

Ms Gwynne said on Thursday her latest report mirrored the findings of another in 2018, the recommendations of which had not been adequately followed. Two other reports released by her office this week highlighted shortcomings in the NT youth detention system.

Ms Wakefield said those ­reports showed her government’s progress. “Four years ago, you mob were being pushed out of the way by national media because our youth justice system was on the front pages of the national and international papers for all the wrong reasons,” she said on Thursday.

“We’ve come a long way.”

That outcry over the tear-gassing of Aboriginal teenagers in Don Dale Youth Detention Centre sparked a royal commission that recommended the Office of the Children’s Commissioner receive extra staff and responsibilities. Ms Gwynne said her office now had 12 staff, fewer than the recommended 20.