By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Residents say they are under siege from “out-of-control” children in a child-protection home in a Greater Dandenong neighbourhood.
They report being intimidated and tormented by young people, seemingly unsupervised, noisily running riot on the home’s roof and in the street into all hours of the night.
From the rooftop, the juveniles allegedly sniff aerosols, yell abuse and hurl projectiles such as a bedhead, road-sign pole, TV and coffee table into neighbouring yards.
Police and paramedics are reportedly being often called to break up the loud late-night gatherings.
“They are like terrorist vampires – quiet during the day and running amok at night,” a neighbour says.
Despite the sleepless nights and complaints, the home’s manager Anglicare Victoria states that it has been running the home “successfully for many years”.
It has “enjoyed” a “positive” relationship with the local neighbours, the care-provider stated.
“We are aware, and appreciate the recent concerns raised by local residents and it is important to Anglicare Victoria that we continue our relationship and working with the neighbourhood in the successful running of this home.”
An elderly couple tell of the young people imperiously overlooking their front door and driveway from atop of the home’s roof.
One of the couple, a cancer sufferer, is too afraid to venture outdoors.
“They’re calling her names and saying what are you looking at while she’s in her own back yard,” a resident told Star Journal.
“It’s now been five months – and they’ve been going through hell every day.”
Aside from the verbal abuse, they’ve had their windows broken and front iron fence kicked in. Their grandchildren were outside playing when a roadside pole was propelled into their yard.
After months of escalating incidents, an exasperated neighbour met with Anglicare and was given assurances that his concerns were being taken “seriously”.
The young residents were moved on. However they were replaced by another group equally misbehaving, he told Star Journal.
“There’s a whole bunch of new girls come in. And every day, they’ve still been on the roof.”
He says they attacked him and damaged his car after he photographed them drinking a wine cask and sniffing aerosols outdoors.
“Why are they allowed to do that? There’s no law, no curfew, no supervision.
“Their carers say they can’t take (the substances) off them. They tell us to call the police.
“You’ve got to be responsible for this – you’re putting the burden on the community.”
Another resident says that the facility is failing in its aim to mentor “wayward” children to lead a “normal life” in the community.
“There seems to be no mentoring, no supervision and no adult guidance.”
Child Protection opposition spokesperson Nick Wakeling said it was “another sign that child protection is in crisis”.
“Abuse and behavioural issues involving child protection clients are on the increase, and the Andrews Government has no plan to deal with it.
“The Liberals want to see more done to stamp out abuse and anti-social behaviour involving children in care, so we can all have a safer, brighter future.”
Star Journal has sent an enquiry to the State Government.
