How Could You? Hall of Shame-Australia-Partner of Tasmanian Foster Mother

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Tasmania, Australia, “the male partner of a Tasmanian foster carer has been fined $886 and placed on the sex offender register for 12 months[what?], for indecently assaulting a child while in his care.

The 57-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in the Magistrates Court in Launceston today.

The court heard when he met his current partner about eight years ago, she cared for three foster children and that “he took them on as his own”.

The man assaulted one of the children, sometime between September and December 2016, by indecently touching her through her pyjamas.

Magistrate Ken Stanton convicted the accused of assault with indecent intent.

“There is no suggestion that it happened on any other occasion,” he said.

“This is not likely to be something you would repeat.”

The three foster children are no longer in the couple’s care, and they will not be able to foster children together again.

The man’s two biological children and his partner sat in the back of the courtroom while he was sentenced.

Labor claims ‘scandal after scandal’

In May, the ABC reported allegations of child abuse in foster care, with whistle-blowers saying the Government was so desperate to house vulnerable children they were being sent to abusive out-of-home care environments.

At the time, the Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch said he did not know of any specific cases of abuse of children in foster care.

Following the sentencing of the foster carer’s partner in Launceston on Tuesday, Labor’s Josh Willie said it was not the first incident in the out-of-home care system under the Liberal Government’s watch.

“We’ve seen scandal after scandal occur in this portfolio area,” Mr Willie said.

“It’s now really important for the Minister to ensure that the quality of care that young people are receiving is of the best quality.”

Mr Jaesnch was briefed regularly on the case.

A spokesman for the Minister said allegations of abuse and neglect were always taken very seriously, and the young person in this case was immediately removed from the placement and supported.

In a statement, the spokesman said the support given to the young person had been a key factor in the conviction and validated the work of the Child Safety Service, whose officers responded promptly to the initial allegations according to established procedures.”

Tasmanian man who indecently assaulted foster child fined and put on sex offender register

[ABC 7/10/18 by Manika Dadson and Rhiana Whitson]

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