12:00a.m. 25th June 2008

| By Jane Gardner

A Sunshine Coast mother who claims her baby girl was sexually abused by an older boy at a southern Sunshine Coast day care centre last November says the authorities ignored her cries for help.

The hinterland woman’s story coincides with the release of shocking new figures from the Australian Institute of Criminology that show up to a 2000% rise in the rate of juvenile sex attacks in less than 10 years (see below).

The mother-of-three contacted one of the parents of three Year 1 boys who were allegedly sexually abused by older boys at a Sunshine Coast hinterland primary school in May after reading their story in the Daily.

They say the Department of Education, police and child protection agencies were unable to thoroughly address the issues because of legislation protecting children under 10.

This mother says she has been battling for justice since her three-year-old daughter was allegedly sexually abused by a seven-year-old boy who attended after school care at the centre.

She said they first noticed the abuse when her toddler refused to sit down in the bath.

“She wouldn’t sit in the bath for six weeks. On the day we found out, my mum had had enough of her not being able to sit down and asked her why," she said.

The child told them she had been penetrated by a boy behind a barrier next to the sand pit multiple times.

“It went on for weeks and she wasn’t allowed to tell anyone because it was their secret,” her mother said.

“We took her straight to hospital.”

Hospital staff confirmed the abuse and the child was immediately withdrawn from the centre.

The child was referred to Laurel House for counselling. The counsellor also confirmed the abuse had occurred.

Her mother claims the day care centre refused to acknowledge the incident and accused her child of telling lies.

The National Childcare Accreditation Council and the Department of Communities would not comment on the case because of privacy legislation.

The child care centre in question changed ownership last year and the original owners were unavailable for comment.

Police confirmed the incident had been investigated by the Child Protection Investigation Unit but could not provide details of the outcome of their investigations under the Child Protection Act.

However, the child’s mother claimed the police investigation resulted in no justice for her daughter.

“Child Safety said because it wasn’t a family member they had to stay out of it (but) this other boy could be needing help.”

Shadow minister for Child Safety Jann Stuckey said these cases were indicative of a serious flaw in the system.

“It is not good enough that the Department of Community Services is washing their hands of this sexual abuse,” Ms Stuckey said.

“These (children) have learnt this sexual behaviour and DOCS needs to investigate whether this sexual abuse was learnt at home - or somewhere else.

“Research shows that young children who exhibit this type of sexual behaviour have been, or are being, abused themselves.

“The legislation that instructs child safety not to investigate needs to be revised.”

Report reveals shocking statistics on child sexual abusers

A revealing new report from the Australian Institute of Criminology has found juvenile sex attacks have increased 2000% in less than a decade in Queensland.

The Trends in Violent Crime report showed from 1998-1999 and 2006-2007, sexual offences committed by boys aged 10 to 14 rose 155, from 100 offences to 255.

For offences committed by girls of the same age, rose from only two to 42, some 2000%.

Offences by males aged 15 to 19 increased by 154%, from 203 to 517, and in females by 1000%, from three to 33.

In 2002 to 2003, Queensland recorded the highest rate of sex attacks committed by males aged 15 to 19 in the country.

Figures for sexual offences committed by children under 10 are not recorded in the State Government’s child protection data unless the child’s parent or guardian has failed to protect the child.