Two Victorian adults have been charged with child abuse offences, in a case that has raised questions about how foster carers are screened and monitored. Neither of the accused has entered a plea.
Many of the allegations against the pair are too graphic to publish. The allegations involve the production and sharing of child abuse material through an encrypted messaging app. The Australian Federal Police allege the accused were members of a nationwide online forum and exchanged images and videos of prepubescent boys and girls engaging in sexual acts.
The accused came to the attention of Victorian law enforcement agencies on April 29, following an investigation of a NSW man over alleged child abuse material offences. On May 1, detectives from the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation raided their regional home, seizing several mobile phones, laptop computers and clothes.
One of the accused was charged with 19 offences, including producing, possessing and transmitting child abuse material and sexually assaulting a child under 16. The other was charged with a range of online child abuse material offences and with using a carriage service to prepare or plan to engage in sexual activity with a child. Both had their Working With Children clearances suspended immediately after they were charged, an official source confirmed.
The allegations have prompted debate about the screening of prospective foster parents and the monitoring of their behaviour once children are placed with them.
Social Services Regulator Jonathan Kaplan said recent changes to the Working With Children scheme meant organisations that work with children must notify the regulator and keep records of workers and volunteers through the new WWC Connect system. “When we are notified of breaches, we work actively with other regulators and law enforcement authorities in the interests of child safety,” he said. He said Victoria's child safe standards set out mandatory requirements to promote child safety and child abuse.
Former National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds said federal and state governments had failed to implement hundreds of recommendations from royal commissions, reports and inquiries into child safety. "There are still flaws in the system. There is a lack of resources and a lack of independent oversight over the child protections system, which has been a consistent finding of several reports going back more than a decade," she said. "We are not tough enough on political leaders who are supposed to be acting on these things. We know what to do, but there is no accountability for the lack of action."
Hollonds said safeguards around children needed urgent strengthening. "There has to be more training and investment in frontline personnel. The child protections system cannot do this alone and requires a whole-of-government approach. We need to make child safety and wellbeing a national priority," she said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The charges raise direct questions about how thoroughly foster carers are vetted before vulnerable children are placed with them, and what oversight continues afterwards.
- The case touches every family that deals with the child protection system: the outcome of the court process and any regulatory response will shape how vetting and monitoring are handled in Victoria.
- Both accused are due back in Bendigo Magistrates' Court later this month, which is the next formal point at which the case and any plea will become clearer.
Background
Foster and kinship carers in Australia are assessed and accredited by community service organisations working under state regulation, and adults working with children generally require a Working With Children clearance. Victoria has been reshaping that scheme, including a system for organisations to register workers and volunteers with the regulator and to report breaches. Reviews of child protection arrangements in several states have repeatedly examined how carers are screened and how allegations involving children in care are handled, and advocates have long argued that monitoring after placement receives less attention than the initial check.
Key Perspectives
- Kristi McVee, former child abuse detective: says it is alarming that vetting may not have flagged alleged pro-nudist online activity, calling it a massive red flag and arguing it should have been escalated during the foster care vetting process.
- Jonathan Kaplan, Victorian Social Services Regulator: says recent changes to the Working With Children scheme require organisations to notify the regulator and keep records through WWC Connect, and that the regulator works with other authorities when breaches are reported.
- Anne Hollonds, former National Children's Commissioner: says federal and state governments have failed to implement hundreds of recommendations from inquiries, citing a lack of resources and independent oversight, and calls for more training and a whole-of-government approach.
- Anglicare Victoria: says it is unable to comment while the matter is before the court.
What to Watch
- The appearance at Bendigo Magistrates' Court later this month, and whether either accused enters a plea.
- Any statement from Victoria's regulators or the state government on reviewing foster care vetting and post-placement monitoring.
- Whether investigators lay further charges against other alleged members of the online forum identified in the police investigation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTwo Victorian adults have been charged with child abuse offences.WA Today - Latest News: “A regional Victorian couple who fostered seven children since 2021, including a six-month-old, have been charged with dozens of horrific child abuse offences”
- SupportedThe case has raised questions about foster-carer screening and monitoring.WA Today - Latest News: “raising concerns about the vetting and oversight of carers in Victoria”
- SupportedNeither accused has entered a plea.WA Today - Latest News: “Neither of the accused has entered a plea.”
- SupportedThe allegations involve producing and sharing child abuse material through an encrypted messaging app.WA Today - Latest News: “Many allegations against the pair, both in their 20s, are too graphic to publish, but involve the production and sharing of child abuse material via an encrypted messaging app.”
- SupportedThe AFP alleges the accused belonged to a nationwide online forum and exchanged images and videos of prepubescent children engaging in sexual acts.WA Today - Latest News: “Australian Federal Police allege the couple were members of a nationwide online forum, which often characterised itself as “naturist” or “sex-positive”, but allegedly exchanged vile images and videos of prepubescent boys and girls engaging in sexual acts.”
- SupportedOne accused was charged with 19 offences, including producing, possessing and transmitting child abuse material and sexually assaulting a child under 16.WA Today - Latest News: “A 28-year-old was charged with 19 offences, including producing, possessing and transmitting child abuse material and sexually assaulting a child under 16 years of age.”
- SupportedThe other accused was charged with online child abuse material offences and using a carriage service to prepare or plan sexual activity with a child.WA Today - Latest News: “His former husband, 26, was charged with a range of online child abuse material offences and using a carriage service to prepare or plan to engage in sexual activity with a child.”
- SupportedBoth accused had their Working With Children clearances suspended immediately after they were charged, an official source confirmed.WA Today - Latest News: “Both men had their Working With Children (WWC) clearance suspended immediately after they were charged, an official source confirmed”
- SupportedKaplan said: “When we are notified of breaches, we work actively with other regulators and law enforcement authorities in the interests of child safety,”WA Today - Latest News: ““When we are notified of breaches, we work actively with other regulators and law enforcement authorities in the interests of child safety,” Kaplan said.”
- SupportedHollonds said: “There are still flaws in the system. There is a lack of resources and a lack of independent oversight over the child protections system, which has been a consistent finding of several reports going back more than a decade,”WA Today - Latest News: ““There are still flaws in the system. There is a lack of resources and a lack of independent oversight over the child protections system, which has been a consistent finding of several reports going back more than a decade,” Hollonds said.”
- SupportedHollonds said: “We are not tough enough on political leaders who are supposed to be acting on these things. We know what to do, but there is no accountability for the lack of action.”WA Today - Latest News: ““We are not tough enough on political leaders who are supposed to be acting on these things. We know what to do, but there is no accountability for the lack of action.””
- SupportedHollonds said: “There has to be more training and investment in frontline personnel. The child protections system cannot do this alone and requires a whole-of-government approach. We need to make child safety and wellbeing a national priority,”WA Today - Latest News: ““There has to be more training and investment in frontline personnel. The child protections system cannot do this alone and requires a whole-of-government approach. We need to make child safety and wellbeing a national priority,” Hollonds said.”