(Australia) Foster parent on bond for assaulting children

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Foster parent on bond for assaulting children

By MALCOLM WEATHERUP
09jul03

A TOWNSVILLE foster parent was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond
when she pleaded guilty yesterday to assaulting five children in her care.
The woman had originally faced 39 assault counts involving five foster
children, but the prosecution agreed to drop the other charges if she
pleaded guilty to just five counts of common assault, one for each child.
The offences involved slapping, kicking in the buttocks and legs and in one
instance, punching a child in the nose. Townsville Magistrates Court heard
the woman had been a foster parent to more than 50 children over the past
26 years. Barrister Roger Griffith handed up several references praising
the woman's efforts over the years with what he described as "some of the
toughest cases" in the foster care program. Magistrate Laurie Verra
indicated he faced a difficult task in deciding on an appropriate penalty.
"The assaults in themselves did not cause any physical injury outside pain
and suffering," Mr Verra said. "I challenge anyone to put forward a
universally accepted statement of acceptable discipline for children." Mr
Verra noted that the woman had shown a willingness to take on the most
difficult cases, and for many years had provided a valuable service to the
community. "On the other hand, the court wants to send a message loud and
clear to people in similar (foster) positions that it is not all right to
use force on children in their care -- they should not be abused," he said.
He told the woman she would not be a foster carer again, but that may be a
blessing in disguise. "You've done your bit, so as to speak," he told her.
Then, saying community service or a monetary fine were inappropriate
penalties in this instance, Mr Verra put the woman on a two-year, $1000
good behaviour bond. Outside the court, police prosecutor Senior Constable
Steve Morris said the result was the best in the public interest, that the
woman could no longer be a foster parent. Senior Constable Peter Nolan,
attached to the Juvenile Aid Bureau, said the case had highlighted another
message to carers. "If you can't cope, and feel things are getting out of
hand, return the child to the authorities, it's as simple as that -- abuse
is not the answer," he said. The woman's solicitor Peter Bevan commented
that "it is so easy to throw mud".
© The North Queensland Newspaper Company Limited