Headmaster Says Perth School Has Learnt from Abuse Case

ABC
June 20, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s4030015.htm?site=perth

A warning now - this next story from the royal commission into child sexual abuse contains disturbing details.

The headmaster of an Anglican school in Perth says the conviction of a former teacher has been etched into the minds of the school community.

The primary school teacher is now in jail for molesting five of his students, but he was able to "groom" the boys for years before he was arrested.

A public hearing has been told that the concept of grooming behaviour is still absent from the school's child protection policy, even after the man went to trial twice.

Thomas Oriti reports.

THOMAS ORITI: The 12th case study of the royal commission told a harrowing story. It's a story spanning more than a decade where a primary school teacher, known as "YJ", lured boys inside his classroom and sexually abused them.

When one victim turned 18, he went to the police. He told the hearing the abuse changed his life forever.

WP: I suffer from depression. I have constant feelings of guilt about what happened to me, and that it was my own fault.

THOMAS ORITI: The independent Anglican school in Perth can't be named for legal reasons.

Today, the current headmaster was called to give evidence after a public hearing last month. He says the case has deeply affected the school community.

SCHOOL HEADMASTER: Obviously the most significant impact is on the victims and their families but in terms of the community it increases the amount of conversations around child protection.

THOMAS ORITI: "YJ" was jailed for five years in 2012 after a trial and a re-trial. But it seems many of his colleagues turned a blind eye to his behaviour for years.

The headmaster told the royal commission that the school has learnt a crucial lesson.

SCHOOL HEADMASTER: Child sexual abuse has massive impacts on victims and their families, and the trauma associated with that. Staff have been quite upset through the process that they could've missed it.

THOMAS ORITI: His assurances weren't enough for lawyer Andrew Boe, who represents one of the victims.

It's now known that the convicted sex offender "YJ" played favourites with students, befriended their parents, and offered them sweets.

What's commonly referred to as "grooming" behaviour has been central to most of the royal commission's public hearings.

But today, the headmaster conceded that the concept of "grooming" is still not part of the school's child protection policy.

Andrew Boe wanted to know why.

ANDREW BOE: It may be of concern to people in the school community that you don't have a policy that necessarily protects students.

THOMAS ORITI: The headmaster said an inspection of the school in 2012 found that its child protection policies complied with best practice guidelines. But he admits there's still work to do.

SCHOOL HEADMASTER: This process of this commission has raised further points that yes I will need to address.

THOMAS ORITI: Current and former teachers have told the commission they saw "YJ" touch his students close to their genitals in the classroom, often while he was marking their work. He covered up the room's windows with posters.

This teacher complained in 2001, but "YJ" wasn't arrested for another eight years.

WF: The school's response in relation to my initial concerns about "YJ's" behaviour was insufficient.

THOMAS ORITI: The headmaster was asked what would happen now, if that teacher came forward with a complaint.

SCHOOL HEADMASTER: We would have a discussion around her responsibility to report as a mandatory reporter directly. She would've made a mandatory report.

THOMAS ORITI: The case study concluded with an unexpected witness - the headmaster of the school between 1997 and 2002, when the abuse took place.

He received complaints against the teacher at the time.

Giving evidence from Germany, the man explained to counsel assisting, Sophie David, why he didn't take further action.

SOPHIE DAVID: Did you take any disciplinary action against "YJ"?

FORMER HEADMASTER: No I didn't.

SOPHIE DAVID: Did you consider taking any disciplinary action against "YJ"?

FORMER HEADMASTER: I'm not sure that I did. These were strong expressions of concern, and I was treating them as expressions of concern which ought to be responded to professionally and responsibly and immediately.

SOPHIE DAVID: Did you appreciate or recognise any of the concerns that were raised as grooming behaviours?

FORMER HEADMASTER: Clearly Miss David, not sufficiently.

THOMAS ORITI: The case study has come to an end.

The royal commission will now turn to New South Wales, with a public hearing to begin on Tuesday examining the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong.

NICK GRIMM: Thomas Oriti reporting.