Wife loses Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre management job after pedo husband hired to work at centre

A South East Queensland childcare centre director whose convicted child-rapist husband was hired to work there has lost her job and will face court.

Registered child sex offender Andrew William Vassel, 44, was employed part-time at the Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre since 2018.

A Beenleigh childcare centre director whose convicted child-rapist husband was hired to work there has lost her job but the facility is continuing to operate after appointing a new manager amid the scandal.

Registered child sex offender Andrew William Vassel, 44, was employed part-time at the Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre since 2018 as a gardener and maintenance man and also acted as a Christmas Santa Claus.

After a tip-off to police, he faced Beenleigh Magistrates Court last week charged with breaching his reporting obligations under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Act) by failing to report his employment at the centre.

His wife, former Beenleigh Montessori director Mandy Vassel, 46, was also charged by detectives with two breaches of child protection laws and will face the same court on August 19.

The state government’s Early Childhood Regulatory Authority has launched an investigation but the centre is continuing to operate.

A centre staffer who answered the phone on Monday said Mrs Vassel no longer worked there and a new director had been appointed.

It’s understood only one parent has pulled their children out of the centre but others are continuing to support the facility.

The centre’s Facebook page has been attacked with angry emojis and posts about Mr Vassel’s court appearance.

“Disgusting,” one person commented.

In a separate Facebook post, a woman who said her daughter went to the centre said she was “beyond sick” at the revelations about Mr Vassel.

The centre’s Facebook page has been attacked with angry emojis and posts about Mr Vassel’s court appearance.

She said she had previously raised concerns about what she claimed could be child safety risks at the centre, which she also said had a “huge” staff turnover.

“We thought that was terrible let alone finding out only now that our baby was going day to day amongst a convicted child sex offender,” she posted.

“I hope they shut this place down and revoke any licensing or ability for her and her husband to EVER set foot around children again.”

Mrs Vassel declined to comment when contacted by The Courier-Mail.

The centre’s owners told media last week that they were not aware of Mr Vassel’s past and were “horrified”.

They said they were aware he did not have a Blue Card, but it was their understanding that he had no contact with children or access to the centre during opening hours.

The owners said they had reached out to all parents and staff to “sincerely apologise for any angst this may have caused”.

Mr Vassel, whose reporting obligations relating to the child sex offences committed in NSW in 2007 expired in 2023, was fined $2000.

His lawyer told the court he had memory recall issues and “doesn’t specifically recall” playing Santa at the centre, but accepted the versions of three witnesses who said he had donned the red suit.

A Department of Education spokesman said the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority was investigating, working closely with police.

“Approved providers and nominated supervisors have clear responsibilities under the legislation regarding who may and may not be at the service premises when care is being provided to children,” he said.

“Where steps are inadequate to ensure the health and safety of children, the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority does not hesitate to take robust and appropriate action, including prohibition and prosecution.

“Information about prohibition action cannot be published under the Education and Care Services National Law.

“The department is not able to comment further on matters under investigation.”

Originally published as Wife loses Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre management job after pedo husband hired to work at centre