Duty of care lapses by officialdom on child protection

October 9, 2026 — 5:00am

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Revelations that government officers failed to conduct face-to-face inquiries investigating allegations made by whistleblowers and former students of systemic control, abuse, and forced communal living at the Redeemer Baptist School in North Parramatta are another cloud over the protection of children in NSW.

The Department of Communities and Justice instead relied on phone assessments and referrals to other agencies to clear child welfare reports at the school. The allegations involved 15 risks of significant harm notifications involving students as far back as 2004. None of the reports prompted on-the-ground or face-to-face field assessments.

Under NSW law, a child is deemed at risk of significant harm if........

© The Sydney Morning Herald