They were the town heroes, the people who dominate every sphere and rule every room. But the rot set in when they used their power to groom whole communities and hurt the most vulnerable. How did they go undetected for so long? And why were credible reports buried for so many years? From Tasmania and beyond, this podcast series reveals the conditions these bad apples need to thrive across communities and what happens to the whistleblowers who refuse to look the other way.

Search 'Rotten Apple' in your podcast app to follow the full series.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Camille sits down with Grace Tame, 2021 Australian of the Year, to discuss what the Australian Federal Police have described as its biggest law enforcement challenge, child sexual abuse. It has been a headline issue in Grace’s home state of Tasmania for years with a recent Commission of Inquiry and high-profile cases in the press. Grace is candid about the challenges of having a high profile as an advocate, and victim survivor, who is still unpacking the complex trauma of her own experiences. 

Important information for survivors:

Tasmania Police are ready to deal with reports that relate to any criminal activity, historic or ongoing, but only those that include other perpetrators. Call them on 131 444

Anyone struggling with their mental health and feelings of suicidal ideation or depression can call LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14

Locals can reach Launceston counselling service Laurel House https://laurelhouse.org.au/

Send any tips or information to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is a dive into some high profile cases that made headlines in Tasmania over the past few decades. There were rumours of organised pedophilia as early as the 1970s and politicians calling for a Royal Commission into alleged rings of predators in 2003. These cases inform some of the ongoing concerns around organised child sexual abuse in Tasmania - and calls for a thorough review into the issue are only getting louder. 

What needs to happen to get some answers?

Some key people we refer to in this episode of the podcast and who they are:

John Bednall - former Hutchins School principal

Sebastian Buscemi - Tasmanian abuse lawyer and board member Laurel House 

Kathryn Fordyce - CEO Laurel House sexual assault support service in Tasmania’s north

Michael Hodgman - late Tasmanian defense barrister and politician from the 90s, 00s 

Paul Reynolds - late Snr Sgt Tasmania Police. Subject of 2024 police inquiry into his offending

Michael Salter - University of NSW Professor, academic, expert witness in child sexual abuse

Grace Tame - former Australian of the Year 2021 and child sexual abuse survivor/ advocate

Rosalie Woodruff - Tasmania Greens leader in March 2024

Acronyms and other reference points: 

COI - The 2023 Commission of Inquiry  into Tasmanian Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse 

Royal Commission - the 2014 Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Important information for survivors:

Tasmania Police are ready to deal with reports that relate to any criminal activity, historic or ongoing, but only those that include other perpetrators. Call them on 131 444

Anyone struggling with their mental health and feelings of suicidal ideation or depression can call LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14

Locals can reach Launceston counselling service Laurel House https://laurelhouse.org.au/

Send any tips or information to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Launceston General Hospital has dominated the headlines in recent years in Tasmania, with a wave of horror stories. But as staff at the Royal Hobart see matters unfold publicly up north, they were fighting to be heard on the south end of the Apple Island too. 

Some key people we refer to in this episode of the podcast and who they are:

Amanda Duncan - whistleblower nurse Launceston General Hospital

Gracie - whistleblower nurse Royal Hobart Hospital

Jeremy Rockliffe - Premier of Tasmania

Dr Peter Renshaw - a longtime executive of the Launceston General Hospital

Rosalie Woodruff - leader of the Tasmanian Greens Party

Will Gordon - whistleblower  Launceston General Hospital

Acronyms you may hear and what they mean: 

AHPRA - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

AYDC - Ashley Youth Detention Centre 

COI - Commission of Inquiry

LGH - Launceston General Hospital

RHH/ Royal Hobart - Royal Hobart Hospital

THS South - Tasmania Health System South (Hobart)

Important information for survivors:

Tasmania Police are ready to deal with reports that relate to any criminal activity, historic or ongoing, but only those that include other perpetrators. Call them on 131 444

Anyone struggling with their mental health and feelings of suicidal ideation or depression can call LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14

Locals can reach Launceston counselling service Laurel House https://laurelhouse.org.au/

Send any tips or information to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since we first named the nurse offending on the pediatric ward in Launceston General Hospital, our investigation snowballed into alleged offending across Tasmanian institutions, including the hospital, youth prison and schools. This episode takes a brief dip into the Commission of Inquiry and what happened when health executives and others took the stand to account for their role in a catastrophic failure of child safety. 

Some key people we refer to in this episode of the podcast and who they are:

Alysha - whistleblower Ashley Youth Detention Centre

Amber Wilson - Court Reporter for the Tasmania Mercury

James Bellinger - Human relations Launceston General Hospital 

James Griffin - nurse, pedophile, subject of season 1 

Jeremy Rockliffe - Premier of Tasmania

Liz Bennett - she is a lawyer acting for the Commission of Inquiry

Meg Webb - Member of the Legislative Council of Tasmania, Independent 

Paul ‘Beau’ Reynolds - police officer, prosecution services, alleged child sex offender

Peter Gutwein - former Premier of Tasmania

Dr Peter Renshaw - a longtime executive of the Launceston General Hospital

Rosalie Woodruff - leader of the Tasmanian Greens Party

Will Gordon - whistleblower  Launceston General Hospital

Acronyms you may hear and what they mean: 

THS South - Tasmania Health System South (Hobart)

AYDC - Ashley Youth Detention Centre 

RHH/ Royal Hobart - Royal Hobart Hospital

LGH - Launceston General Hospital

COI - Commission of Inquiry

Important information for survivors:

Tasmania Police are ready to deal with reports that relate to any criminal activity, historic or ongoing, but only those that include other perpetrators. Call them on 131 444

Anyone struggling with their mental health and feelings of suicidal ideation or depression can call LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14

Locals can reach Launceston counselling service Laurel House https://laurelhouse.org.au/

Send any tips or information to [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commission of Inquiry into Tasmanian Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has handed down its final report.

Copy into your browser or tap this link https://www.commissionofinquiry.tas.gov.au/report which delves into matters including key cases covered in the podcast to date.

Season 2 is on its way in the new year. Tap the follow button in your podcast app and you'll get the new episodes as soon as they publish, and feel free to rate, review, comment and contact Camille at - [email protected] 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 17 2020, the Tasmanian Government released a draft for the Terms of Reference for its Commission of Inquiry into Childhood Sexual Abuse in Institutions.

Basically this document is a guide as to what a Commission (think of it as a court) will investigate. It's hugely important to know the scope of what will be investigated, to ensure that if we have concerns (say over cover-ups, not just the abuse of children), that it is a focus + that any recommendations address a range of issues that contribute to childhood sexual abuse.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It started with a phone call, sent by the whistle blower I had intended you to meet.

I wanted to wrap series one of The Nurse with a neat bow, ending it the way it began. But life is messy and things aren't black and white, so this isn't the episode I intended to write.

Maybe one day we will meet them, but for now, it is enough that they told me one summer night and triggered all that has happened since.

Like a Commission of Inquiry...

Tasmania Police are ready to deal with reports that relate to any criminal activity, historic or ongoing, but only those that include other perpetrators. Call them on 131 444

Anyone struggling with their mental health and feelings of suicidal ideation or depression can call LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14

Locals can reach Launceston counselling service Laurel House https://laurelhouse.org.au/

Send any tips or information to [email protected]

***********************************************************

Theme: Stronger Together - Myuu thedarkpiano.com

Poltergeist - Myuu thedarkpiano.com

Tyrant by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5031-tyrant

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Satiate by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4322-satiate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Long Note Two by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3994-long-note-two

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Samba Stings by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4008-samba-stings

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim Griffin worked as a maintenance officer at the University of Tasmania for around a decade in the 80s and 90s. So why is that relevant now?

And what does it mean for those who were on the campus when he had the keys?

Tasmania Police are ready to deal with reports that relate to any criminal activity, historic or ongoing, but only those that include other perpetrators. Call them on 131 444

Anyone struggling with their mental health and feelings of suicidal ideation or depression can call LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14

Locals can reach Launceston counselling service Laurel House https://laurelhouse.org.au/

Send any tips or information to [email protected]

***********************************************************

Theme: Stronger Together - Myuu thedarkpiano.com

Poltergeist - Myuu thedarkpiano.com

Tyrant by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5031-tyrant

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Satiate by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4322-satiate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Long Note Two by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3994-long-note-two

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Samba Stings by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4008-samba-stings

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An independent Inquiry has been announced into the matter of James Griffin and his alleged abuses at Launceston General Hospital. But some say it doesn't go far enough - we need a Royal Commission.

We then go back in history, for clues as to what may happen next.

Tasmania Police are ready to deal with reports that relate to any criminal activity, historic or ongoing, but only those that include other perpetrators. Call them on 131 444

Anyone struggling with their mental health and feelings of suicidal ideation or depression can call LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14

Locals can reach Launceston counselling service Laurel House https://laurelhouse.org.au/

Send any tips or information to [email protected]

***********************************************************

Theme: Stronger Together - Myuu thedarkpiano.com

Poltergeist - Myuu thedarkpiano.com

Tyrant by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5031-tyrant

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Satiate by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4322-satiate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Long Note Two by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3994-long-note-two

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Samba Stings by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4008-samba-stings

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.