A mother claims her two-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by a worker at a Victorian childcare centre. Due to the lack of witnesses or CCTV footage of the alleged incidents, the educator remains employed and uncharged.
Angela* told Guardian Australia that her daughter, Emily*, had revealed the alleged offences in mid-December, at nearly three years old. Emily claimed the incidents occurred during nappy changes and named the educator.
Within hours of these revelations, Angela contacted the police. She was encouraged to take Emily for a medical assessment immediately.
The doctor’s clinical notes show that Angela informed the medical staff about the allegations before the girl entered the room. Emily confirmed the educator’s name and expressed a wish not to return to the centre. Further examination and evaluation by a pediatrician were suggested.
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After the medical assessment, Emily’s parents were advised to keep her away from the childcare centre. The police had already been notified regarding the investigation.
Initially, the police instructed Angela not to inform the childcare centre about the allegations. Two days after the doctor’s appointment, they attempted to record a statement from the child on tape but Emily was uncomfortable and unwilling to participate, so no statement was taken.
Angela says that four days later, an officer informed her that a prosecutor would not be convinced that Emily understood the difference between the truth and a lie, based on the lack of direct evidence. They advised her to notify the centre about the allegations.
