news, education, richardson primary school, allegations, abuse, staff member
Police have decided not to press charges over allegations of child abuse by a casual staff member at an ACT school last year. Students in one class at Richardson Primary School raised the allegations about the casual staff member in November last year. Principal Anna Wilson said in a letter to parents, which has been published on the Education Directorate freedom of information disclosure log, that the worker had been stood down pending an investigation. “I am writing to inform you that a number of students in the class have made allegations of inappropriate behaviour by [a casual staff member] that has been working in your child’s class,” Ms Wilson said. “Due to the very serious nature of the allegations, the staff member will not be at our school whilst I work with the Reportable Conduct team within our Directorate to conduct a thorough investigation.” The directorate would not disclose the nature of the alleged behaviour, however correspondence from a parent sent to The Canberra Times said it involved the alleged physical and verbal abuse of students. An ACT Policing spokeswoman said police assessed a referral from the ACT Education Directorate regarding a number of alleged non-sexual assault incidents in 2020 involving one staff member at a primary school. “No charges have been laid. ACT Policing considers this matter finalised,” the spokeswoman said. “The matter has been referred back to the Education Directorate.” An Education Directorate spokesman said the matter would be referred back to the professional standards unit to continue its investigation. Under the Reportable Conduct Scheme, organisations are required to report allegations of child abuse or misconduct to the ACT Ombudsman. The ACT Ombudsman was notified and will oversee the directorate’s handling of the matter.
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Police have decided not to press charges over allegations of child abuse by a casual staff member at an ACT school last year.
Students in one class at Richardson Primary School raised the allegations about the casual staff member in November last year.
Principal Anna Wilson said in a letter to parents, which has been published on the Education Directorate freedom of information disclosure log, that the worker had been stood down pending an investigation.
“I am writing to inform you that a number of students in the class have made allegations of inappropriate behaviour by [a casual staff member] that has been working in your child’s class,” Ms Wilson said.
“Due to the very serious nature of the allegations, the staff member will not be at our school whilst I work with the Reportable Conduct team within our Directorate to conduct a thorough investigation.”
The directorate would not disclose the nature of the alleged behaviour, however correspondence from a parent sent to The Canberra Times saidit involved the alleged physical and verbal abuse of students.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman said police assessed a referral from the ACT Education Directorate regarding a number of alleged non-sexual assault incidents in 2020 involving one staff member at a primary school.
“No charges have been laid. ACT Policing considers this matter finalised,” the spokeswoman said.
“The matter has been referred back to the Education Directorate.”
An Education Directorate spokesman said the matter would be referred back to the professional standards unit to continue its investigation.
Under the Reportable Conduct Scheme, organisations are required to report allegations of child abuse or misconduct to the ACT Ombudsman.
The ACT Ombudsman was notified and will oversee the directorate’s handling of the matter.
