Children’s Guardian Office in turmoil as staff stood down, home raided
The Office of the Children’s Guardian is in chaos, rocked by allegations of staff misconduct, with multiple staff being sacked or stood aside and one employee’s home being raided by police.
NSW
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The Office of the Children’s Guardian is in chaos, rocked by shocking allegations of staff misconduct, with multiple staff being sacked or stood aside and one employee’s home being raided by police.
In a twist, one staff member has even been caught posing as a formal government “investigator” to allegedly smear another staff member.
The government office is responsible for child safety, with one of its key responsibilities being the management of Working With Children Checks (WWCC), including compliance and monitoring of those who receive them.
It can be revealed a special ministerial inquiry under way into the office has now been extended until the end of this month as a result of the volume of complaints and information provided to the investigation.
Launched four months ago, it came as The Saturday Telegraph exposed turmoil and multiple complaints over a “vulgar” game of “pin the sperm on the uterus” during a baby shower in the office.
Among the new allegations being examined by the inquiry include inappropriate staff relationships and promotions, and undeclared conflicts of interest.
The inquiry itself has become embroiled in controversy after a staff member allegedly pretended to be associated with the inquiry, sending emails to some of her colleagues.
Staff sources claim the emails were allegedly designed to smear or attack other staff.
As the emails came from an overseas server, investigators had to obtain an international search warrant to track down the author.
The Saturday Telegraph understands police recently raided the staff member’s home to seize equipment.
It is understood the staff member is one of three OCG employees who have been dismissed or stood aside since the inquiry was launched.
Questions have also been raised about the process that led to the hiring of former police commissioner Ken Moroney as an OCG special adviser.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Moroney, who is no longer in the role.
Children’s Guardian Steve Kinmond stood aside in March after complaints about the baby shower, including staff claiming they had been “forced to participate”.
Mr Kinmond told The Saturday Telegraph at the time that he had not been present at the event, and “welcomed” the matter being examined.
Mr Kinmond declined to comment further when approached this week.
The Saturday Telegraph does not suggest any inappropriate behaviour or wrongdoing by Mr Kinmond.
Since Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington appointed Kate Eastman SC to conduct the investigation into what the minister previously described as “serious” and “disturbing” allegations, multiple staff have been interviewed – some over several days.
An update on the inquiry on the OCG website said Ms Eastman would now deliver Ms Washington her report on Thursday, July 31.
A spokesman for Ms Washington said the minister would also not be commenting further on the new allegations.
The turmoil in the office comes as The Daily Telegraph revealed this week more than two dozen people with links to serious crimes, including child sexual offences, had obtained a WWCC by appealing to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal since 2020. The revelation prompted Premier Chris to commit to toughen laws.
An OCG spokesman said the office was unable to comment on any matters “that may be under investigation” by the inquiry.
Due to privacy laws, it was also unable to comment on “individual employment circumstances.”
“The Office of the Children’s Guardian welcomed this inquiry when it was announced, and we look forward to its findings and recommendations,” the spokesman said.
Originally published as Children’s Guardian Office in turmoil as staff stood down, home raided
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