A former Victorian childcare worker has restored his work with child control after being released from the indecent touching of children during a game of “monster kittens”.
Paul Kefford regularly played the tickling game with children for other staff and parents without complaint in the center where he worked, a tribunal heard.
But in October 2020, he was fired from his job, pending an investigation into allegations that the then 55-year-old touched a boy and a girl, both four years old, in their genital area during the robust game in which he played a monster. . to tickle children.
He was formally questioned by his employer, education officials and Victoria Police. He was never charged with a crime.
Mr Kefford acknowledged that he may have accidentally touched children in the way she described when they wriggled and scratched during the match, but denied outright that the touch was anything other than accidental, it became Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal told.
Mr Kefford was banned from working in childcare by the Department of Education in November 2020 and resigned.
His work with child clearance was also withdrawn, a statement Mr Kefford also fought at VCAT.
VCAT Vice President Heather Lambrick found that touching Mr Kefford near a child’s genital area or on a child’s skin was “unintentionally or improperly motivated”.
“In the regular play of the raw tickle monster game, Mr. Kefford had no intention, but played the game only for the amusement and benefit of the children with whom he played the game and for no other reason,” he said. se.
“When children squirm with disgust and pleasure, there is of course the real possibility that they may be inadvertently touched on a ‘private’ part of their body, whether through clothing or if they wear shorts / skirts on the skin.
“I fully accept Mr Kefford’s proof that this is in fact what happened.”
Mr Kefford has never been accused of criminal crimes arising from the conduct.
The Secretary of State for Justice emphasized that Mr Kefford was an adult educator in a position of trust, which put himself in a position of risk to touch the genitals of the children.
It was claimed that it was a deviation from the expected norms and the need to always respect the bodies of children.
Ms Lambrick said she was pleased Mr Kefford posed “no risk to children at all” and reinstated his work on child control.
“I accept that Mr Kefford has taken full responsibility for his actions,” Ms Lambrick said in her statement just before Christmas.
“Although he was devastated by the consequences of playing the game, he fully reflected on his behavior and promised never to repeat it.
“Mr Kefford provided evidence that he did not intend to work in childcare again because he himself was traumatized by the consequences of the behavior. I fully accept that he has been.
“He has been investigated, lost his job, had to endure two separate hearings before this tribunal, and explain his behavior and re-explain to his number of character references.
“I have found that Mr Kefford does not pose a risk to children, I am satisfied that it is in the public interest for Mr Kefford to deal with children.
“He has his own children with whom he wants to actively participate. That should be allowed.”
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