Help protect and bring justice to vulnerable daycare children, like Lincoln

Content Warning: Sensitive topics including child sexual assault

Lincoln* was almost 3yrs old when he returned from daycare with an anal injury saying someone hit him in the bottom, he later disclosed he was hit with a stick in both genitalia regions. Lincoln returned from daycare a few days later with blood on his nappy. Lincoln complained of sore genitalia for weeks. Another child from the centre bled from their genitals down both legs to their feet following a bath after returning from the centre. Hospital examinations over 7 days
post-incident reported the bleeding was ‘unexplained’. The hospital also found a mark on a childs genitalia suggestive of internal injury.

These were two of four children from the same daycare centre whose families made allegations of sexual abuse within weeks of each other. The four alleged incidents went on to be investigated by the Child Abuse Squad with state
Police. Lincoln was one of four children that were part of Child Abuse Squad investigation at the same daycare centre. Lincoln’s psychologist made  statements regarding his clear and specific disclosures of a strong sexual nature, his response and presentation in therapy. The psychologist also explicitly expressed concern about disclosures, reports, and statements of children that have not been deemed credible by authorities, leaving children and families suffering ongoing trauma and potential public safety risks. 

The Detective closed his case and filed it with ‘no offence detected’. He went further to state that ‘the information gathered throughout the investigation would strongly suggest no offence occurred’.

There was no protection and there is no justice for daycare children like Lincoln.

Lincoln is not the only child in Australia that has raised sexual assault allegations, tried to voice their concerns and was not listened to. Ashley Griffith was charged with over 1600 offences against children, across multiple daycare centres spanning 10 years. Ashley Griffith was caught by the Australian Federal Police only through photographs found on the dark web that were traced back to a room in an Australian daycare centre.

Two police reports were made against Ashley Griffith at the same police station in the preceding 12 months. In one instance, a little girl told her parents that Ashley touched her private parts, sadly the police found that no offence occurred and went as far as to state that she did not look like a child who had been interfered with.

Only 35% of daycare offenders are carers, they can be anyone including men or women, family of staff members, bus drivers, visitors etc. Offences in daycare centres can occur anywhere not just during nappy changes (Finkelhor et al., 1988).

These statistics are alarming. Daycare centres must be held accountable for their actions or lack thereof. Daycare centres remain vulnerable due to inadequate regulations. Recent events have underscored this issue further.

Parents need to consider this when they consider how to choose child care near me or a daycare centre near me.

We cannot stand idle while our children are at risk

By signing this petition, you are joining a collective voice demanding safer environments for our children where they can learn and grow without fear of harm or exploitation. If, after the utmost protective measures are implemented they do make allegations of sexual abuse they deserve rigourous investigation.

Please sign this petition today!

Petition by,
Jane