Inquiry Told of Risk Posed by School-aged Sex Offenders

By Peta Carlyon
ABC News
April 4, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-04/inquiry-told-clergy-continue-to-27groom27-children/4609592?section=vic

Victoria's parliamentary inquiry into child abuse has heard confronting evidence about child sex offenders.

Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs from the University of South Australia said she had come across sex offenders aged as young as four.

She told the hearing on Thursday that schools are failing to deal with the issue.

She called for a broad-reaching education campaign to better inform teachers and principals.

Professor Briggs has worked extensively with victims and offenders in institutions, including churches, prisons and schools.

She said many offenders, including those exposed to sex at a young age, go on to re-offend.

"These children can be spotted in schools. But they're not being handled well. He gets caught two times, he might be suspended. Three times, he's expelled ... and then he goes to another school," she told the inquiry.

"But because of his right to privacy, the staff don't know that he's got this history."

Professor Briggs also criticised the Catholic Church's ongoing handling of offenders within its ranks.

"They still regard child sexual abuse akin to a traffic offence," Professor Briggs said.

Earlier, an expert on child abuse victims says ongoing public ignorance is allowing offenders within the Catholic clergy to continue grooming children.

Professor Caroline Taylor of Edith Cowan University in Western Australia told the inquiry that victims and survivors of abuse continue to feel isolated and ostracised.

Professor Taylor has worked extensively with victims of abuse by members of the Catholic clergy in Victoria.

She is calling for a public education campaign, particularly in rural communities.

She told the inquiry a lack of education and ignorance about the impacts of abuse was particularly problematic in rural communities.

But she says her repeated calls to the Catholic Church to take a lead role in educating communities and priests had been rebuffed.

"I think offenders are still grooming children at an alarming rate," she said.