AUSTRALIA
The Chronicle
Chris Calcino 12th May 2014
AN EXPERT in student protection was engaged by the Toowoomba Catholic Education Office in the wake of February’s inquiry into child sexual abuse at a Toowoomba school.
The revelation that pedophile teacher Gerard Vincent Byrnes was rehired despite serious complaints about his conduct, only to reoffend, has done enormous damage to the educational institution’s reputation.
An open letter to parents, signed by Bishop Robert McGuckin and Toowoomba CEO director John Borserio, sought to reassure them the inquiry’s recommendations had been implemented.
“Most recently, we engaged Dr Monica Applewhite (whose work in policy development for the prevention of abuse, including sexual abuse, and maintaining safe environments for children is well respected internationally) to deliver professional development training to principals and student protection contacts in the area of child sexual abuse,” it stated.
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