World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Victorian former foster carers charged with child abuse offences
A former foster-carer couple in regional Victoria have been charged with dozens of offences involving child abuse.
The pair, who are in their 20s, fostered seven children from 2021, including a six-month-old.
Police allege the offences include producing and sharing child abuse material online, and one man is also charged with sexually assaulting a child under 16.
The men came to police attention during an investigation into a separate case in New South Wales, and their home was searched on May 1.
Their Working With Children clearances were suspended after they were charged.
The case has raised concerns about how foster carers are screened and monitored, while Victoria’s regulator says organisations working with children must notify it of breaches and keep worker records.
Anglicare Victoria, which approved the couple as foster parents, says it cannot comment while the case is before the court.
A former Victorian foster-care couple have been charged with dozens of child abuse offences.
The pair, both in their 20s, fostered seven children from 2021, including a six-month-old.
Police allege they produced and shared child abuse material through an encrypted messaging app.
The couple came to the attention of Victorian law enforcement on April 29, and detectives raided their regional home on May 1.
The case has prompted questions about the screening and oversight of foster carers.
- Who
- A former foster-care couple in regional Victoria, aged 28 and 26.
- What
- They have been charged with child abuse offences, including offences involving child abuse material.
- When
- The couple came to law enforcement’s attention on April 29; detectives raided their home on May 1. The charges’ date is not stated.
- Where
- Regional Victoria.
- Why
- Police allege the couple produced and shared child abuse material and committed other offences against children.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The couple fostered seven children, including a six-month-old.
The couple came to the attention of Victorian law enforcement following an investigation of a NSW man.
Detectives raided the couple’s regional home and seized mobile phones, laptop computers and clothes.
- Children fostered
- Seven since 2021
- First accused
- A 28-year-old charged with 19 offences
- Second accused
- A 26-year-old charged with online child abuse material offences
- Police raid
- May 1, at the couple’s regional Victorian home
- WWC clearances
- Both men’s Working With Children clearances were suspended after they were charged
What people are saying
It’s a massive red flag. You’re putting vulnerable children with families who openly expose and celebrate nudity. Where is the protective factor? Where is the consideration for a child’s privacy?
There are still flaws in the system. There is a lack of resources and a lack of independent oversight over the child protections system, which has been a consistent finding of several reports going back more than a decade.
When we are notified of breaches, we work actively with other regulators and law enforcement authorities in the interests of child safety.