A message from the CEO
Saturday, 21 January 2012
YOUTH INSEARCH MEDIA STATEMENT
Youth Insearch can confirm that one former male participant in Youth Insearch programs has made an allegation against Mr. Ron Barr, the Founding Director of Youth Insearch, of inappropriate sexual conduct The conduct is alleged to have occurred more than 15 years ago.
As soon as the allegation was raised with Youth Insearch, inquiries were made and the allegation was put to Mr. Barr, who has strongly denied it.
After the allegation was made, and in light of the seriousness of the complaint, Mr. Barr was suspended by Youth Insearch. The NSW Commission for Children and Young People has been notified. The matter has also been referred to the police.
Youth Insearch takes this matter extremely seriously, and is cooperating fully with the police and the Commission.
We have offered counseling support both to the complainant and to Mr. Barr.
On a separate issue, in December 2011, the Youth Insearch Board of Directors made the difficult decision to wind back the operations of the Foundation and hold no programs for a period of six months. This decision had to be made due to the financial situation we are facing, which has been developing for some months.
This decision to temporarily wind back the operations of the Foundation was in no way due to the allegations against Mr Barr. Sadly, and as a result of the financial difficulties, it was necessary to make all staff, including Mr Barr, redundant. The Board has asked the CEO to stay on to administer the organisation while the financial situation is resolved.
A Report was commissioned last year by the Board into the financial arrangements of Youth Insearch. The Report highlighted systemic management issues and a lack of financial controls. A significant constraint in the implementation of these controls has been, as for all charities, a lack of internal resources and finances.
However, it found there was not financial mismanagement on the part of any employee, other than one junior employee who had issues with his vehicle use and credit card, nor was there fraud or misuse of funds by any director.
The current Board has accepted the recommendations in the Report and implemented significant changes in accordance with the Report to remedy the deficiencies.
Similarly, the Board commissioned a Report into allegations of workplace bullying. The Report stated that Judith Barr had engaged in inappropriate workplace behavior in some cases and in only one case bullying behavior, but certainly “not of the worst kind” and dismissed all the other allegations made. Judith Barr was given a formal warning and redeployed so as to have no direct management of staff.
Youth Insearch has grown quickly and widely and has undergone significant change during this period. This has brought about necessary changes in leadership and staff to bring a more professional approach to its activities.
Over the years Youth Insearch has done remarkable and positive work with some of Australia’s most troubled youth. We hope that will also be taken into account in judging the situation we now face.
We ask that the community and our supporters appreciate the difficult situation we are now in, and continue to support us.
The current Board and CEO accept that improvements need to be made and that is why we took on our positions in November of last year, and are taking the steps to address these issues, rather than deserting the organisation in its time of need.
We are determined to do everything we can possibly do to ensure Youth Insearch’s continuing necessary work.
Heath Ducker
CEO Youth Insearch
