The charges against the four ex-school staff members appeared in the Queanbeyan Local Court on Tuesday. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged child abuse.
Four former staff members will fight allegations they assaulted two children at a school in Queanbeyan.
According to court documents, the two boys were allegedly assaulted a total of six times between August 2024 and June 2025.
Two Canberra residents, a 65-year-old woman and a 63-year-old woman, as well as a 38-year-old man from Queanbeyan, are each alleged to have assaulted the first boy on different occasions.
In addition, a 46-year-old man from Canberra is alleged to have assaulted the first boy twice and the second boy once.
Region has not named the staff members or the school out of concerns about identifying the children.
NSW Police announced they had charged the four earlier this year, originally claiming three children had been assaulted at the school. But the court documents show that the four are charged only with respect to two children.
Their cases were all scheduled to appear in the Queanbeyan Local Court for the first time on Tuesday (21 April), although none of them attended court in person.
Satomi Hamon from CODA Criminal Law, appearing for the 46-year-old, said the four matters should proceed through the court together.
She and the 65-year-old’s lawyer, Megan Baker-Goldsmith, the 63-year-old’s lawyer, Max Haesler, as well as the 38-year-old’s lawyer, Peter Bevan, all said their clients would enter pleas of not guilty.
Magistrate Roger Clisdell ordered prosecutors to serve the brief of evidence on the defence lawyers in May and adjourned the matter to 2 June. The four are excused from appearing in person if legally represented.
Multiple journalists were in court to hear the matter, and TV cameras were spotted outside the courthouse.
“I’ve had half the fourth estate in here,” Magistrate Clisdell remarked when the courtroom began to empty after he adjourned the matter.
After the four were charged, police said none of them was working at the school anymore.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on Region Canberra.
What a fantastic acheivement, especially these days! Bob and his crew need special congratulations!… View