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12-year-old girl in state care victim of abuse by carers in ‘worst case’ children’s commissioner has ever seen
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12-year-old girl in state care victim of abuse by carers in ‘worst case’ children’s commissioner has ever seen

A defenseless young girl is in state care Victoria It was found that she was abused by people who were paid to protect her.

Victoria’s children’s commissioner, Liana Buchanan, told 9News the horrific case of abuse was the worst she had seen in the state.

The 12-year-old girl was accused of murdering a woman while in state custody at a Footscray flat, but the charges were dropped due to her age.

Victorian children’s commissioner Liana Buchanan. (Nine)

This was followed by systematic harassment and violence allegedly perpetrated by caregivers assigned to his case.

The commissioner’s investigation found that the girl suffered “serious trauma” even long after she was taken into state care.

Buchanan revealed that the girl was mixed up in 10 different homes.

It was also revealed that she had run away hundreds of times and engaged in sex work.

“He had explained many times to caregivers, whose job was to care for him 24 hours a day, that some of these people had been violent towards him,” Buchanon told 9News.

Buchanon said this was the worst situation he had ever seen as Victoria’s children’s commissioner.

“I think this is a story of missed opportunities to protect this child and do right by him from very, very early in his life,” he added.

The report found that all institutions were systematically failing it due to lack of coordination. (Nine)

The state government spent $3 million over three years to care for the girl who was removed from her home.

The report found that all institutions were systematically failing it due to lack of coordination.

“The system as a whole is designed to provide protection for children in care,” Victorian Children’s Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said.

“That’s what we’re trying to do, can we always do better? Of course we can.”

Buchanon took the extraordinary step of sharing the report’s harrowing findings with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen, the first time she had done so.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Advisory Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Child Helpline 1800 55 1800.