Debelle report slams Education Department

The Debelle report into child sex abuse in schools has slammed the South Australian Education Department for a string of failings.

And while the Premier has been cleared of any wrongdoing, he has offered a heartfelt apology to affected families.

Late this afternoon Premier Jay Weatherill and Education Minister Jennifer Rankine visited the western suburbs school where sex abuse sparked the Debelle inquiry.

This morning, a red-faced Ms Rankine made a house call in a bid to appease an angry mother whose daughter is an alleged victim.

The mother told 7News she had been ignored by the department since last Thursday after being promised a briefing.

“She was upset about that and I apologised to her,” Ms Rankine said.

The mother has told 7News she felt better after the visit.

“For me, I fell a hundred times better today than I did yesterday, that there’s an ending to all this,” she said.

The Debelle report cuts deep.

It proves parents and students at the school were let down over sex abuse involving an after-school carer.

It found there was departmental pressure on the school council to conceal the case from families.

Premier Weatherill made a heartfelt apology.

“On behalf of the Government, I apologise to the school community,” he said.

“I also owe a particular apology to the governing council of this school.”

The Debelle report contains 43 recommendations, including: Proper notification of all alleged sexual misconduct; risk assessment to indentify children who may be victims; full information sharing; and the minister must be informed.

Mr Weatherill’s chief of staff and an advisor received an alert email in 2010, but both failed to pass it on.

“I’ve made it clear it’s an unacceptable mistake,” Mr Weatherill said.

Shadow Education Minister David Pisoni said: “The buck stops with Jay Weatherill, of course Jay Weatherill is responsible.”