BEENLEIGH has made national headlines this week, for all the wrong reasons.
On Thursday, it was reported a convicted child sex offender was caught working at a childcare centre in Beenleigh.
The man, a 44-year-old from Hillcrest, is reportedly married to the director of the centre, Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre.
7News reported that the man was convicted of sexually abusing a child in NSW in 2007, where he spent eight months in prison and was banned from working with children.
There are no allegations of child abuse at Beenleigh.
The centre’s owner said the man was employed as a contractor for maintenance and gardening work, which he understood was “always conducted outside of the childcare centre’s opening hours”.
“I was horrified to learn of his criminal history prior to his engagement at the Beenleigh centre,” the owner said.
“I was shocked his wife had hidden this from me. She was stood down immediately upon my full learning of his past.
“I am deeply saddened by these circumstances.”
On Wednesday night (16 July), it is understood the man and centre director were arrested at their home in Hillcrest.
The man faced court the next day, where he pleaded guilty to two child protection breaches and was fined $2000.
“A 44-year-old Hillcrest man has been charged with two counts of fail to comply with reporting (Blue Card offences) and appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court yesterday, 17 July. The matter has been finalised,” a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said a 46-year-old Hillcrest woman has been charged with one count of “clearance required to employ person in regulated employment” and appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on 17 July.
“As the matter is now before the courts there is no further information.”
The centre’s owner said he was aware the contractor did not have a Blue Card.
“… but it was my understanding he had no contact with children or access to the centre during opening hours,” he said.
“Had I been aware of the fact he was not properly qualified to undertake the role, and fully aware of his history, he would never have been engaged by the centre.”
All staff and parents have since been informed of the news and ofference an apology for “any angst this may have caused”.
“I have passed on my direct contact details and welcome any parent to further contact me for any support or information they may require,” the owner said.
Hetty Johnston, a vulnerable children advocate from Safeguarding People Australia, told 7News the incident was not acceptable.
“Parents are entitled to feel angry and sick to the stomach that their kids have been in the vicinity of a convicted sex offender,” she said.
“It’s almost irrelevant whether something happened or didn’t happen, whether he has committed an offence or not.
“The fact is he was even there is the fail.”
