00:00Louise Van Loon is 47 now, but between the ages of 5 and 11, she says she was abused
00:09by a father and his son, whom she's not related to.
00:13When she discovered the son was now working with children as an adult, she went to police.
00:18I just wanted an investigation.
00:21Louise wanted the son's working with children check investigated, but police were confused.
00:27Originally I was told I could just make a report.
00:30Then I was told that I needed to pursue criminal charges.
00:34Then I was told it needed to be an arrest.
00:37And then eventually I was told he needed to be charged.
00:39That's because Victoria's working with children check unit can't look into someone
00:44unless they're charged or had a finding made against them.
00:48Police arrested and interviewed the man last year.
00:51Louise wanted to tell the schools he worked at he'd been arrested.
00:55But first she checked with the office of the Victorian Children's Commissioner.
00:59They explained to me that I could contact the organisation that this person was working
01:05at and advise them of my concerns.
01:09Louise rang the schools, but days later got a phone call herself from a senior police officer.
01:15It's up to you, but you need to be careful, that's all I can say.
01:18It was police who took action, taking out an intervention order against Louise to protect
01:30her alleged abuser.
01:32I still find it unbelievable that Victoria Police would not just silence me but punish me for
01:40speaking out about child sexual abuse.
01:45When it got to court, a magistrate threw out the case and condemned police.
01:50She's come forward to police, like a lot of adult women, alleging sexual assault as a little girl.
01:56And you take out an intervention order against her?
02:00That's it, isn't it?
02:02I wonder what other people who might be thinking to disclose sexual assault might think of this.
02:07Police should have known better.
02:09The Victorian Children's Commissioner says people with child safety concerns can go directly
02:15to organisations, just like Louise did.
02:18But Victoria Police defended the intervention order, saying there was never enough evidence
02:23to charge the man.
02:25Police also acknowledged Louise Van Loon suffered sustained trauma in this case and apologised
02:31for, unfortunately, giving her conflicting advice.
02:34It nearly killed me, that process, and it should never have happened.
02:43.
02:52.
02:55.
03:00.
03:01.
03:06.
03:07.
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