A West Australian man who last year was honoured with a prestigious award for excellence in child protection has been charged with child sex offences.<\/p>\n
Barry Wayne Lawrence, 38, is accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy between 2022 and 2025 while he was employed by the WA Department of Communities.<\/p>\n
He has been charged by Mandurah detectives with indecently dealing with a child over 16 under their authority, and indecently dealing with a child over 13 and under 16.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Barry Wayne Lawrence pictured at an awards ceremony last year when he was recognised for his child protection work. (Supplied: WA Government)<\/p>\n
In September last year, WA’s then-minister for child protection Sabine Winton honoured Mr Lawrence at the state’s inaugural Child Protection Excellence Awards.<\/p>\n
He was given a partnership award as an Aboriginal practice leader in Bindjareb Boodja (Mandurah).<\/p>\n
Police allege Mr Lawrence then abused the boy again between November and February this year.<\/p>\n
He appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he also faced two counts of allegedly intending to expose a person under 16 years to indecent matter.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Department of Communities says it is aware a staff member is currently subject to formal criminal proceedings. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)<\/p>\n
Mr Lawrence, who lives in the Mandurah suburb of Coodanup, was granted bail so long as he was able to provide $10,000 as a personal undertaking and surety.<\/p>\n
He will reappear in court next month for legal advice.<\/p>\n
Ms Winton said she had not been aware of any concerns relating to Mr Lawrence when she hosted the awards ceremony last September.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sabine Winton says Mr Lawrence’s Working with Children Check has been revoked. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)<\/p>\n
“I attend a number of events in a number of settings [and] I was not aware of any concerns,” she told ABC Radio Perth.<\/p>\n
The minister said Mr Lawrence’s Working with Children Check has been revoked amid the police investigation.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Department of Communities said it was aware a staff member was currently subject to formal criminal proceedings.<\/p>\n
“While the matter is before the courts it is not appropriate for the Department to provide specific comment,” the statement said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The safety and wellbeing of children is always the Department\u2019s top priority and Communities works collaboratively with WA Police to support criminal investigations.”<\/p>\n
Well known in community<\/p>\n
Mr Lawrence has been involved with various politicians in recent years, in relation to his youth work and business interests.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mr Lawrence appeared in a video promoting RooForce with former Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas.<\/p>\n
In 2021, his company RooForce was contracted by the City of Perth to assist with people experiencing homelessness in the city.<\/p>\n
That work saw Mr Lawrence pictured with high-profile politicians such as the current Opposition Leader (then Perth Lord Mayor) Basil Zempilas and then-Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mr Lawrence (left) pictured with then-Aboriginal affairs minister Tony Buti. (X: Tony Buti)<\/p>\n
A post by former child protection minister Simone McGurk congratulating Mr Lawrence on her Facebook page has since been taken down.<\/p>\n
Mr Lawrence was also chair of the City of Mandurah’s NAIDOC Committee.<\/p>\n
He was involved in running football programs for Indigenous youth in the Mandurah region.<\/p>\n
The ABC has also found recent references by a local health service promoting a camp and youth drop in program involving Mr Lawrence in the Mandurah and Peel district.<\/p>\n
“For around three years now, the AOT team have been working with other agencies in the Peel region to take young Aboriginal people out on country to connect to culture,” a post from March 2024 on Oseca’s Facebook page attributed to Mr Lawrence said.<\/p>\n
“A part of the camp was to provide the young people the opportunity to learn about Noongar culture and dance and provide life skill opportunities.<\/p>\n
“Post-camp, the Kullangah Booja Mia Program was created as a drop-in style program for children in care and community kids.”<\/p>\n
Oseca, formerly GP Down South, also shared details of Mr Lawrence leading an art therapy session for children along with another Oseca employee.<\/p>\n
According to the post, the six resulting paintings were presented to Department of Communities director Mike Rowe who “proudly hung the pieces in his office”.<\/p>\n
A picture of the event appears to show Mr Lawrence presenting the art to his then-boss.<\/p>\n
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