Victorian authorities failed to protect the most vulnerable children from sexual predators, the Commissioner for Children and Young People has said, after an Ombudsman investigation found the state had one of the country’s weakest systems to screen adults who work with children.
Ombudsman Deborah Glass said former youth worker Alexander Jones slipped through the cracks when authorities missed multiple “highly concerning” red flags. She urged the Andrews government to strengthen Victoria’s Working with Children Check scheme.
Victorian Commissioner for Children and Young People Liana Buchanan called for agencies to be able to share a broader range of information with the Working with Children Check Victoria.
“There is no doubt that multiple systems failed to protect children in this case,” Buchanan said.
“The Ombudsman has exposed that Labor’s poor legislation has created loopholes that only benefits paedophiles and those who would exploit children,” shadow attorney-general Michael O’Brien said.
Source: Working With Children Check: Ombudsman urges overhaul of Victoria’s scheme