Former Ashley Youth Detention Centre employee charged over alleged rapes, abuse

Members of our Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC) Class Action were pleased to hear the announcement that nearly 4 years to the day from the Tasmanian Commission of Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse handing down its final report and 100 years from when abuses at the Ashley Boys Home were first reported, police have finally charged one of the alleged offenders, a former officer at the AYDC.  Former Ashley Youth Detention Centre employee charged over alleged rapes, abuse - ABC News

Whilst the news is welcome, much more needs to be done by the Tasmanian Government and Tasmanian Police to ensure that the perpetrators of abuse at the AYDC are dealt with.

It is our understanding that a number of AYDC employees against whom allegations have been made after several years on pay whilst stood down are yet to face disciplinary or criminal proceedings.

ASL has encouraged all of our clients who allege abuse at Ashley to come forward and provide statements to Regina Weiss who has been appointed by the Government to provide independent assistance in obtaining statements from survivors. Ms Weiss informed a parliamentary committee last week that the Shared Capability and Centralised Investigation Unit had 13 signed and completed statements, with a further 19 in various stages of completion, relating to alleged conduct by employees at AYDC from 1994 to the present.

There is still much work to do with former detainees still coming forward following the approval last November of our $75m class action with class members receiving between $200,000 to $1,000,000 plus after all costs.

ASL is continuing to receive complaints of abuses at Ashley subsequent to the COI final report and the announcement that Ashley would close although the closure continues to be much delayed.

If you witnessed or experienced abuse at the AYDC please contact our office for a free confidential consultation.