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John Oxley Youth Detention Centre Care, Custody ... And Control On 13 August 1998 the state government established a Royal Commission into the abuse of children in State and church institutions in Queensland. It was headed by former Governor, Ms Leneen Forde. The inquiry's report presented nine months later does not explain why it was established. It is as if one day the relevant Minister simply decided it might be a good idea if such an inquiry were held. But such was not the case. As is usual in these matters, the inquiry was set up because there was no option. The stories that had been appearing in the media (many of which can be accessed on this site) could not be ignored. The John Oxley Youth Detention Centre was one of the institutions investigated by the Forde Inquiry. The following observations about the John Oxley Centre are summarised from that report. It was opened in February 1987 to cater for children placed in the care and control of the State and those committed to the custody of the State. In other words, serious offenders (including those awaiting trial for. or sentenced for, murder or other serious crimes were held in the same facility and shared accommodation with children who were simply unruly, difficult or disturbed. There were three residential wings. Boys and girls had separate rooms but lived together in the same wings. It is hard to believe such an arrangement could ever be considered, but it was a reality at John Oxley. The report notes: " … the Centre experienced disciplinary problems involving sexual misconduct and activities resulting from teenagers 'showing off'". The issue of sexual assault at John Oxley is covered in one brief paragraph in the report and refers to a matter in 1995 involving "two reported allegations of sexual assault by a child on another child" , a claim by a staff member that a "female resident complained of rape during an outing" and two staff members "complained about possible sexual assaults by the older, bigger residents on the younger, more vulnerable ones. Another indicated that the opportunity for sexual abuse existed, particularly when residents were doubled up in cells". There is no mention in the report of the matters that follow, despite (it transpired many years later) a substantial file on what had happened having been in existence for ten years. Now read on. What They Did To A Girl in Care (One) 2693 page visits Content Management Software 2010