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| Academy head believes Scott Volkers a 'suitable person' despite abuse claims | Academy head believes Scott Volkers a 'suitable person' despite abuse claims |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Scott Volkers was “good at what he was doing” and so remained employed as a swimming coach despite allegations of sexual abuse and rejections for certification to work with children, the current head of the Queensland Academy of Sport has told the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse. | Scott Volkers was “good at what he was doing” and so remained employed as a swimming coach despite allegations of sexual abuse and rejections for certification to work with children, the current head of the Queensland Academy of Sport has told the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse. |
| In 2002 Volkers was charged with seven counts of indecent dealing with three young girls in the 1980s. Volkers denied the allegations and five months later the Queensland director of public prosecutions (DPP) dropped charges. The DPP’s decision was later criticised by a crime and misconduct commission report. | In 2002 Volkers was charged with seven counts of indecent dealing with three young girls in the 1980s. Volkers denied the allegations and five months later the Queensland director of public prosecutions (DPP) dropped charges. The DPP’s decision was later criticised by a crime and misconduct commission report. |
| Volkers would remain employed in various positions with the academy or Swimming Queensland until 2010. | |
| Julie Gilbert, Kylie Rogers and Simone Boyce gave their evidence to the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse on Monday. | Julie Gilbert, Kylie Rogers and Simone Boyce gave their evidence to the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse on Monday. |
| It became apparent at the public hearing on Tuesday that senior executives at the academy relied on advice from the Department of Communities together with references of Volkers’s ability as a swimming coach and his position as a “coaches’ coach” in their decision to continue employing him. | It became apparent at the public hearing on Tuesday that senior executives at the academy relied on advice from the Department of Communities together with references of Volkers’s ability as a swimming coach and his position as a “coaches’ coach” in their decision to continue employing him. |
| The current chief executive, Bennett King, told the commission he took steps in 2008 to have all staff certified with blue cards, letting them work with children. Of the 60 applications made Volkers’ was the only one rejected. | The current chief executive, Bennett King, told the commission he took steps in 2008 to have all staff certified with blue cards, letting them work with children. Of the 60 applications made Volkers’ was the only one rejected. |
| “Scott was allowed to continue on because the department said to me that he didn’t need one at that point in time and Swimming believed that he was still a valuable asset to them in terms of his knowledge, technically and tactically,” said King. | “Scott was allowed to continue on because the department said to me that he didn’t need one at that point in time and Swimming believed that he was still a valuable asset to them in terms of his knowledge, technically and tactically,” said King. |
| King kept Volkers in employment in order to ensure that “Swimming remained strong”, he said. | King kept Volkers in employment in order to ensure that “Swimming remained strong”, he said. |
| “You were taking all steps to ensure that his employment continued, literally, up until the day that it became untenable?” suggested Spruce. | “You were taking all steps to ensure that his employment continued, literally, up until the day that it became untenable?” suggested Spruce. |
| “He was good at what he was doing,” King replied. | “He was good at what he was doing,” King replied. |
| King was asked if he agreed that someone being a good swimming coach has “no bearing” on whether he is a suitable person to work with children. | King was asked if he agreed that someone being a good swimming coach has “no bearing” on whether he is a suitable person to work with children. |
| King paused, and then said he wasn’t sure of the question. | King paused, and then said he wasn’t sure of the question. |
| It was repeated and he paused again. | It was repeated and he paused again. |
| “I don’t have an answer for you on that.” | “I don’t have an answer for you on that.” |
| After concerted prodding by Justice Peter McClellan, King eventually conceded the two were separate issues, and even the best swimming coach in the world could potentially be unsuitable to work with children. | After concerted prodding by Justice Peter McClellan, King eventually conceded the two were separate issues, and even the best swimming coach in the world could potentially be unsuitable to work with children. |
| Earlier on Tuesday the hearing heard that one of King’s predecessors “still believes, even after reflection, that [Volkers] was a suitable person”. | Earlier on Tuesday the hearing heard that one of King’s predecessors “still believes, even after reflection, that [Volkers] was a suitable person”. |
| The charges against Volkers in 2002 caused enough concern that he was suspended from his role to “ensure the welfare and safety of athletes”, Alexander Baumann said on Tuesday morning, but when those charges were dropped the swimming coach was reinstated, despite there being no determination on his guilt or innocence. | The charges against Volkers in 2002 caused enough concern that he was suspended from his role to “ensure the welfare and safety of athletes”, Alexander Baumann said on Tuesday morning, but when those charges were dropped the swimming coach was reinstated, despite there being no determination on his guilt or innocence. |
| Appearing via video link from New Zealand, Baumann maintained he and other senior members of the academy took “appropriate action” in responding to the allegations against Volkers, despite the coach later being twice refused a blue card certification to work with children. | Appearing via video link from New Zealand, Baumann maintained he and other senior members of the academy took “appropriate action” in responding to the allegations against Volkers, despite the coach later being twice refused a blue card certification to work with children. |
| He frequently referred to Volkers as a “coaches’ coach” who did not directly work with athletes. | He frequently referred to Volkers as a “coaches’ coach” who did not directly work with athletes. |
| Baumann told the commission that at the time the charges against Volkers were dropped he understood it did not mean Volkers was found innocent, but he assumed a court had made a resolution on the issue. However he later conceded it was clearly the DPP, not a court, who made the decision and that he was probably aware of it at the time. | Baumann told the commission that at the time the charges against Volkers were dropped he understood it did not mean Volkers was found innocent, but he assumed a court had made a resolution on the issue. However he later conceded it was clearly the DPP, not a court, who made the decision and that he was probably aware of it at the time. |
| Further questioning drew contradictory answers as the commission sought to explore why Volkers was reinstated and how much contact he had with athletes. | Further questioning drew contradictory answers as the commission sought to explore why Volkers was reinstated and how much contact he had with athletes. |
| “Considering that Scott did not directly coach athletes, I think there’s been a public misconception that he was coaching athletes at this time,” said Baumann. | “Considering that Scott did not directly coach athletes, I think there’s been a public misconception that he was coaching athletes at this time,” said Baumann. |
| “He was coaching coaches; he was not coaching athletes.” | “He was coaching coaches; he was not coaching athletes.” |
| When questioned by counsel assisting, Caroline Spruce, why Volkers was suspended after he was charged if he was not working with athletes, Baumann said: | When questioned by counsel assisting, Caroline Spruce, why Volkers was suspended after he was charged if he was not working with athletes, Baumann said: |
| “Until the determination was made … there was a need to ensure that the welfare and safety of athletes was also taken into account. That’s why we wanted to make sure that we mitigated the risk.” | “Until the determination was made … there was a need to ensure that the welfare and safety of athletes was also taken into account. That’s why we wanted to make sure that we mitigated the risk.” |
| “What happened to your concern about the welfare and safety of the athletes after the charges had been dropped?” asked Spruce. | “What happened to your concern about the welfare and safety of the athletes after the charges had been dropped?” asked Spruce. |
| “I still believed there was a determination by the DPP … in terms of them dropping all charges against Scott Volkers,” he said. | “I still believed there was a determination by the DPP … in terms of them dropping all charges against Scott Volkers,” he said. |
| “Did you understand the dropping of the charges to be a determination that Mr Volkers was innocent?” asked Spruce. | “Did you understand the dropping of the charges to be a determination that Mr Volkers was innocent?” asked Spruce. |
| “At that point in time, no,” said Baumann. | “At that point in time, no,” said Baumann. |
| In 2005 another female complainant came forward to the Queensland anti-discrimination commission alleging Volkers assaulted her when she was about 15, in the late 1990s, in circumstances that mirrored those of Gilbert, Rogers and Boyce. | In 2005 another female complainant came forward to the Queensland anti-discrimination commission alleging Volkers assaulted her when she was about 15, in the late 1990s, in circumstances that mirrored those of Gilbert, Rogers and Boyce. |
| Volkers, Swimming Australia and the state of Queensland each submitted that the complaint was outside the statutory framework and the complaint was rejected. | Volkers, Swimming Australia and the state of Queensland each submitted that the complaint was outside the statutory framework and the complaint was rejected. |
| Baumann told the hearing he had been given notice of the third complaint that Volkers had allegedly abused one of their athletes, but said he did not receive the police statement detailing the allegations. When he questioned the allegations among colleagues he was told they were serious but not that there were similarities with the earlier allegations, he said. | Baumann told the hearing he had been given notice of the third complaint that Volkers had allegedly abused one of their athletes, but said he did not receive the police statement detailing the allegations. When he questioned the allegations among colleagues he was told they were serious but not that there were similarities with the earlier allegations, he said. |
| Baumann did not talk to Volkers about the complaint. | Baumann did not talk to Volkers about the complaint. |
| He said advice received at the time said Volkers’ role at the academy should not change. | He said advice received at the time said Volkers’ role at the academy should not change. |
| On Monday senior counsel assisting, Gail Furness, told the commission: “There is no evidence that either the Queensland Academy of Sport or Swimming Australia took any steps to investigate the matter or otherwise respond to the complaint.” | On Monday senior counsel assisting, Gail Furness, told the commission: “There is no evidence that either the Queensland Academy of Sport or Swimming Australia took any steps to investigate the matter or otherwise respond to the complaint.” |
| Amid the legal wrangling around the complaint, Volkers produced a letter of reference written by Baumann. | Amid the legal wrangling around the complaint, Volkers produced a letter of reference written by Baumann. |
| “Mr Volkers has consistently acted diligently and conscientiously in his duties,” it read. | “Mr Volkers has consistently acted diligently and conscientiously in his duties,” it read. |
| Baumann left the academy in 2009. | Baumann left the academy in 2009. |
| In 2010, soon after the second time Volkers was rejected for a blue card, the commission for children and young people received complaints that Volkers had been sent by Swimming Queensland to China as head coach to girls aged 14 to 17, and that he continued to provide assistance and coaching at the Sleeman aquatic centre. | In 2010, soon after the second time Volkers was rejected for a blue card, the commission for children and young people received complaints that Volkers had been sent by Swimming Queensland to China as head coach to girls aged 14 to 17, and that he continued to provide assistance and coaching at the Sleeman aquatic centre. |
| Swimming Queensland’s executive director, Kevin Hasemann, informed Volkers that parts of his employment would need to be reviewed to ensure there was no breach. | Swimming Queensland’s executive director, Kevin Hasemann, informed Volkers that parts of his employment would need to be reviewed to ensure there was no breach. |
| Volkers subsequently left his job with Swimming Queensland and took up a coaching role in Brazil. | Volkers subsequently left his job with Swimming Queensland and took up a coaching role in Brazil. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |