Authorities ignored boarding school staff reports of sex abuse

By Dan Box
Australian
January 13, 2016

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/authorities-ignored-boarding-school-staff-reports-of-sex-abuse/news-story/9c34a08268f2080bde93fcb093801e39

Former staff from a remote Catholic boarding school in far north Queensland say they reported ­alleged child abuse by a teacher to local education authorities years before he was charged by police, but were told that no action would be taken.

The Australian has previously revealed the dormitory master was one of three former employees of St Teresa’s Catholic College in Abergowrie, including two principals, currently facing child-sex charges in different states.

Several former employees of the school, many of whose pupils come from indigenous families across northern Australia, say they verbally reported their concerns about the man to senior execu­tives at the Townsville Catholic Education Office between 1991 and 1993.

These included allegations that he attempted to sexually assault a child. One former staff member said he was later told the alle­g­ations had been investigated and no further action would be taken; another said he was threatened with legal action as a result.

In October 1993, the teacher resigned “due to personal and family reasons”, according to a school newsletter from the time.