Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk promises to protect children in care in aftermath of bombshell report

WA Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk has pledged to protect children from sexual abuse by fellow youths in State care — but warned that deciding to isolate a potentially dangerous child is a “very difficult” call. The declaration — made during a Budget estimates hearing this morning — comes a week after the release of a bombshell report investigating a tragic sexual assault in care. The report found that a boy in Department of Communities care “repeatedly” told staff he was worried about his sexual urges before he allegedly sexually abused a fellow group-home resident. The Government no longer houses reportable offenders – anyone sentenced for an offence – in group homes. Minister McGurk said this arrangement would protect children from harm. “There is a risk assessment done for those children (who display harmful sexual behaviours)” she said. “The practice guidelines do contemplate that it is possible for children with harmful sexual behaviours to be placed in group homes, however, where those behaviours are of extreme nature some of those children will be (classified as) reportable offenders.” Minister McGurk said that training to recognise harmful sexual behaviour — often the result of a child being sexually abused themselves — was being rolled out to residential care home staff. Simply isolating all children displaying harmful behaviour was not a viable option, she warned. “That's a very difficult decision for the department because you’re essentially placing that child living on their own with around the clock adult care,” she said. “There are very poor outcomes for those children.” Ms McGurk flagged that a Federal decision was “imminent” on the establishment of a national centre for helping such children. The report tabled last week was commissioned in October after Macie — a child in care — spoke to the media about her traumatic sexual assault at 14 at the hands of a fellow group-home resident, Lee. Macie and Lee are not the children’s real names. The report revealed that in the months leading up to the assault Macie told staff she feared that Lee would rape her. Lee himself said he was worried about what he might do to the children in the house. According to the report, he “repeatedly” expressed concerns to staff about his sexual urges and “the safety of younger children who are living in the same residential care home as him.” “Lee feels urges towards other residents occasionally and one in particular,” one case file note read.