Report on Sexual Contact with Children by Persons in Authority in the Department of Education and Training of WA
- Recommendations
- 6
- Report length
- 112 pages
Summary
The report's own summary: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, pages 9 to 12
Generated summary: written by an AI model from the report text and checked against the cited pages.
The Corruption and Crime Commission reviewed how the Department of Education and Training handled five allegations of sexual contact with children.
It considered those cases against the department’s commitment to safe learning environments.
The Commission concluded that the department inadequately managed these cases, identifying weaknesses in risk management, accountability, reporting and recordkeeping.
Its six recommendations addressed centralised complaint handling, staff training, statutory responsibilities, executive oversight and cooperation with police.
Report on Sexual Contact With Children By Persons in Authority in the Department of Education and Training of WA.pdf, page 10 · Report on Sexual Contact With Children By Persons in Authority in the Department of Education and Training of WA.pdf, page 11 · Report on Sexual Contact With Children By Persons in Authority in the Department of Education and Training of WA.pdf, page 12
In the body's own words
- Opinion
In the Commission’s opinion the case studies indicate that at the present time DET does not adequately manage sexual contact cases.
- Conclusion
The Commission has not undertaken any empirical analysis of DET, and cannot estimate to what extent there is a lack of reporting of sexual contact matters.
Findings, opinions and statements
Allegations are not findings. A commission's finding or opinion of corrupt conduct or misconduct is not a finding that a person is guilty of a criminal offence, and the commissions say so in their reports.
No findings are reproduced in this record. This does not establish that the report contains none.
Recommendations 6
Recommendation One
In relation to roles and responsibilities within DET for dealing with sexual contact allegations, the Commission recommends that: a. all responsibility for dealing with suspected or alleged sexual contact be removed from local and district managers and transferred to the Complaints Management Unit; b. as part of the process of change arising from the review of the Complaints Management Unit, DET employ within the Complaints Management Unit appropriately qualified and experienced staff to deal with sexual contact allegations; and c. DET enter into a process of planned and continuous improvement of its policies and procedures aimed at giving effect to its stated safe and secure learning environment policy. This process should be aimed at building a robust system capable of identifying high-risk behaviour and circumstances.
Recommendation Two
In relation to DET policy on sexual contact allegations, the Commission recommends that DET: a. develop an ongoing training programme to ensure that policies and procedures relating to sexual contact are well known and understood by DET staff; b. develop procedures to ensure that non-compliance with policies and procedures is identified and dealt with by way of management and/or disciplinary actions; and c. ensure that all internal investigation reports address compliance and/or non-compliance with relevant policies.
Recommendation Three
In relation to its responsibilities under the Western Australian College of Teaching Act 2004, the Commission recommends that, as a matter of priority, DET review compliance with this Act. This review should include: a. the development of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with Western Australian College of Teaching Act 2004 and its intentions (for example, reference to the Act in all internal investigation reports); b. ensuring that such policies and procedures include informing the Western Australian College of Teaching of all matters that may be relevant to the registration of teachers, whether or not teachers have been suspended or dismissed; c. reviewing records of matters identified by the Western Australian College of Teaching Act 2004, with a view to advising the college about those teachers currently employed by DET, whose actions cast into doubt their suitability for registration; and d. reviewing records of matters identified by the Western Australian College of Teaching Act 2004, with a view to advising the college about teachers who have left DET’s employ because of conduct that casts into doubt their suitability for registration.
Recommendation Four
In relation to its responsibilities under the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004, the Commission recommends that prior to implementation of this Act on 1 January 2007, in conjunction with the Department of Community Development, DET review its policies and procedures to ensure that they comply with the Act and its intentions.
Recommendation Five
In relation to managerial commitment to deal with misconduct, the Commission recommends that DET implement a system of review at executive level of serious misconduct cases, particularly sexual contact allegations, as part of the changes stemming from its review of the Complaints Management Unit.
Recommendation Six
In relation to the involvement of police in sexual contact allegations, the Commission recommends that DET review its approach to matters involving alleged sexual contact by: a. ensuring that all relevant matters are notified to police with comprehensive information; b. ensuring that sufficient documentation is maintained to demonstrate notification and interaction with police; and c. developing appropriate policies and procedures to ensure co-operation with police, and to ensure that internal decision-making about investigating allegations is made on the basis of departmental risk assessment, as distinct from police prosecuting decisions.
Published responses
No published response was found.
Notes on this record
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