Offending Institution: YMCA New South Wales

Jonathon Lord worked for YMCA New South Wales for two years. He was a coordinator at two of the five YMCA centres in New South Wales, meaning he had access to children all over the state.

He often breached YMCA New South Wales’ child protection policies by allowing children to sit in his lap, babysitting children outside the YMCA and attended events outside of work with children.

Babysitting was prohibited to maintain the separation between professional and personal relationships. Other YMCA employees (including Jacqui Barat) and parents knew Lord was babysitting children outside the YMCA but his misconduct was not reported.

In 2011, Lord was sacked due to allegations he had sexually abused a child on an excursion.

YMCA New South Wales contacted Joint Investigation Response Team (JIRT) and set up a support hotline for parents and families involved with the YMCA. Several parents of children who had been groomed or abused contacted JIRT.

The Royal Commission found YMCA New South Wales had failed to protect children on multiple fronts

Image: Catholic Weekly

In 2014, the Royal Commission found YMCA New South Wales did not communicate with employees on the issue of child abuse and failed to support them, even though many employees were shocked by the allegations.

The Royal Commission also found YMCA New South Wales failed to provide information and support for children and their parents. YMCA New South Wales did not address how Lord was able to offend, or how they intended to make the YMCA a safer organisation for their children.

No tools were provided for parents to discuss safety issues with their children, specifically if their children needed support.

In 2013, Lord was convicted of 13 offences involving 12 children between the ages of 6 and 10, including:

• 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault on a person under 16
  
  
• Two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and under authority.
  
  

In 2016, the Royal Commission met again to investigate YMCA New South Wales’ progress and the changes made to increase safety for children in their organisation. Following the initial investigation in 2014, YMCA New South Wales:

• Hired a Chief Risk Officer
  
  
• Hired a child protection manager who managed the Royal Commission’s recommendations and reports to the Chief Risk Officer and CEO
  
  
• Appointed new board members with specific expertise in child protection
  
  
• Completed WWCCs and criminal record checks
  
  
• Ensured all new board members undertake child protection training and training on YMCA New South Wales child protection policies as part of their induction
  
  
• Established a Child Protection Unit and an “immediate alert system” for all child-related incidents
  
  
• Established a risk management framework that requires monthly reporting
  
  
• Established yearly child safety assessments
  
  
• Ceased outside school hours care services in Caringbah.
  
  

YMCA New South Wales was also quick to join the National Redress Scheme after its launch on July 1st 2018.

The case around Jonathon Lord was a massive failure on behalf of YMCA New South Wales. It’s shocking an influential, child-focused organisation could have such a blatant disregard for child protection and safety procedures.

No background checks were made.

Referees weren’t contacted.

It’s incredible Lord’s resume was looked over at all.

These kinds of mistakes can’t be allowed to happen. However, when they do, Kelso Lawyers is here to support you and your family. Together, we can achieve an apology and compensation for the suffering you’ve experienced.

Get the justice you deserve with Kelso Lawyers. We want to hear your story. Call (02) 4907 4200 or complete the online form before you accept payment from the National Redress Scheme.