MOTHER CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AND DAYCARE FAIL TO INVESTIGATE AFTER SON’S ALLEGED ABUSE
BY TANGIORA HINAKI
A single mother has accused Western Australia’s child-protection department and a national childcare provider of covering up failing to properly investigate her complaints about alleged sexual abuse of her four-year-old son,
In correspondence seen by this outlet, the woman, who cannot be named to protect her child’s identity, says her son disclosed in May 2025 that another boy at a regional outside-school-hours care service had repeatedly forced him to perform oral sex and threatened to “bash” him if he told.
She says that when she reported this to centre staff the next morning, the on-site director allegedly replied: “We’ve known about his sexualised behaviour for eighteen months.” The mother asked what safety measures were in place; she says none were shown to her, and she was told to telephone head office. The mother says that during a subsequent video meeting, the childcare executives denied that any abuse had occurred and stated they had “no records” of prior incidents.
The conversation became heated; the mother admits using a swear word. The following day, the service cancelled her son’s enrolment, citing “verbal abuse of staff”, leaving the single parent unable to work. She then attempted to lodge a formal complaint with the Department of Communities, whose officers allegedly told her: “We can’t take a report from you - you’re not a mandatory reporter.”
Under WA law, any person may report suspected child sexual abuse. Days later, the department supported a violence restraining-order application naming the mother and her former partner, claiming the pair had attended the centre “in an aggressive state”, threatened to “take matters into their own hands” and discussed owning a firearm. Court documents place the male partner in Perth on the alleged date, 1 600 km from the service.
No charges have been laid, and no firearm was located. A second restraining order, obtained by the alleged perpetrator’s foster carers, one of whom is employed by the department, asserts the mother has stalked and photographed the family, allegations she denies.
The mother contacted the Education and Care Regulatory Unit – Legislation to seek information about the child care provider's report, but says she has not received a response.
The mother has now lodged complaints with the WA Ombudsman and is preparing a submission to the federal Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education, and “Then they tried to scare me into silence. I won’t stop until someone explains how this was allowed to happen.” In a statement to Ngaarda Media, the Department of Communities said the safety and well-being of children is its top priority and that it is responsible for investigating child protection matters and assessing risks of abuse or neglect. The department said when concerns are substantiated, it undertakes safety planning and may seek protection orders through the Children’s Court.
It also pointed to publicly available reports and complaint pathways, including those of independent oversight bodies, and said that processes are in place to manage any real or perceived conflicts of interest. The department added it operates under the Children and Community Services Act 2004.
Ngaarda Media informed DCP that we were not seeking information about any specific child, but requesting general policy information, templates, and de-identified data so the public can understand how the system is meant to operate in cases involving harmful sexual behaviour between children.