Perth teacher molested students for years despite warnings

By Thomas Oriti
ABC - AM
May 19, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2014/s4006987.htm?site=perth

CHRIS UHLMANN: The royal commission into child sexual abuse is preparing to hear evidence that a teacher at a Perth school molested students in his classroom.

The man abused primary school students for a decade, despite repeated warnings from other teachers. Concerns were raised as recently as 2009. And because the victims are still young, there are strict rules on what can be said in the public hearing.

Thomas Oriti reports.

THOMAS ORITI: The royal commission has already examined child sexual abuse at Christian Brothers homes in Western Australia, dating back to the 1940s. But this next hearing involves some victims who are still in their teenage years.

JANETTE DINES: The case study looks at offending by a male teacher over a period of 10 years.

THOMAS ORITI: Janette Dines is the royal commission's CEO.

JANETTE DINES: The facts involve concerns being raised by teachers and a parent about the level and type of conduct that the teacher was having with year four students.

THOMAS ORITI: As recently as six years ago, a teacher was singling out his students and grooming them with praise and gifts. He then indecently assaulted them.

JANETTE DINES: Grooming is certainly something that the royal commission has looked at previously, and it is an important issue in understanding what can make children vulnerable, and therefore what sorts of systemic things could be put in place to prevent abuse occurring.

THOMAS ORITI: The man was arrested in 2009 and was later sent to prison, where he remains.

Dr Cathy Kezelman is the president of Adults Surviving Child Abuse. She's spoken to the mother of one of the boys who was molested.

CATHY KEZELMAN: Dialogue initially of great concern for her son, who has obviously been impacted, and obviously this has impacted the whole family. Frustration with the school, but also frustration with the process in general.

This was a boy, now a young man, who was victimised, and felt somewhat re-victimised by the process with the school and with the whole process itself.

THOMAS ORITI: The school can't be named for legal reasons, but it's been described as an independent school in Perth. In total, 11 witnesses will give evidence, including a victim and a parent.

Cathy Kezelman says it's also important to examine the broader impacts of the abuse.

CATHY KEZELMAN: This study looks at how a school community was groomed, how children were groomed, how people were aware, and yet still nothing happened. I think it will inform us as a society that we just can't have a hands-off attitude, that we all need to act together to keep our children safe.

THOMAS ORITI: Janette Dines says the case study highlights that child sexual abuse is a contemporary issue, as much as a historic tragedy.

JANETTE DINES: It's important to look back, as well as look at what is happening now. It's very important to the royal commissioners that they examine publicly a range of cases, and that includes where did children used to be cared for, and where are children cared for now?

Looking at past practice and current practice really enables the royal commissioners to make very sound and thorough recommendations.

THOMAS ORITI: The Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia has declined to comment, saying it doesn't want to compromise the royal commission. Dr Kezelman expects the school involved to answer some serious questions.

CATHY KEZELMAN: I'm aware of the fact that there were a number of victims, and I'm aware of the fact that the school had concerns expressed to them by a number of teachers over a period of ten years, and it wasn't until a victim reached the age of 18 and reported it to the police that the teacher was actually dismissed.

CHRIS UHLMANN: The president of Adults Surviving Child Abuse, Dr Cathy Kezelman, ending that report from Thomas Oriti. And the hearing begins in Perth this morning.