Ex-WA Police officer Kristi McVee says parents should ask these questions after Naomi Tekea Craig sex abuse

Following the shocking sexual abuse of a student by a teacher at a private school in Mandurah, all parents are asking the same question: How can I keep my child safe?

It took 16 months for everyone to realize that Frederick Irwin Anglican School teacher Naomi Tekea Craig had sexually assaulted a former student.

The abuse began when the child was 12 years old and continued until he left the private private school.

By then, Craig was already pregnant with the boy’s child.

But according to former WA Police officer and child safety educator Kristi McVee, there are some steps parents can look out for and take.

Ms McVee will work with Frederick Irwin’s parents after the horrific abuse to teach them how to communicate with their children.

Speaking to the Mandurah Times, Ms McVee said there were some signs parents could look out for if they suspected their child was grooming.

“Children may become protective of adults, frequently talking about them or defending them when questioned,” Ms. McVee said.

“They may receive unexplained gifts or privileges, become more secretive, withdraw from activities, or resist going to places they once enjoyed.

“Some children become unusually compliant or eager to please a particular adult.”

The former police officer believes that proper adult-child relationships are transparent, consistent and accountable.

“Inappropriate relationships tend to be secretive, exclusionary and escalatory,” he said.

“Adults should ask whether the interaction would look the same if others were present, whether a child is being singled out, and whether this involves confidentiality or special treatment.”

According to Ms. McVee, care often begins with boundary testing.

“Common indicators include an adult repeatedly selecting the same child for special attention, rewards, or tasks, creating opportunities for one-on-one time, giving gifts or offering off-limits treats, using secrecy or “special relationships,” bending the rules for a child, or increasing physical contact,” she added.

“Individually these behaviors may seem trivial, but it is the pattern over time that increases anxiety.”

It was recently revealed that Craig was frequently pulling students out of class, inviting them on weekend beach trips, and handing out sweets.

Schools should have clear policies defining when one-on-one time with students is ‘essential,’ and it should be visible, documented and time-limited, McVee said.

“Systems should be in place to record and respond to staff low-level boundary concerns, with clear rules around physical contact, communication, social media and gift-giving,” McVee added.

“Supervisory structures should prevent staff from routinely being left alone with children without clear justification.”

McVee said this monitoring is about shared responsibility, not distrust.

“Leadership must monitor patterns such as repeated one-on-one access, gradual crossing of professional boundaries over time, or inconsistent application of child safety policies,” he said.

McVee has worked with hundreds of schools and early learning services across the country to fight abuse on the front lines.

It now calls for national consistency in child protection standards, mandated care recognition training, systems to track border concerns and stronger accountability when failures occur.

“The Royal Commission made these recommendations ten years ago and they need to be fully implemented,” he said.

Teachers who suspect colleagues of pushing boundaries should immediately raise their concerns through leadership and comply with mandatory reporting obligations.

“Early reporting is about protecting children before harm occurs, not about punishment,” McVee said.

“When prevention works well, children are protected before visible or emotional harm occurs.”

Parents should also teach their children that secrets about bodies, especially private places, gifts given “for no reason,” or secrets about special relationships are not accepted.

“They need to understand that these rules apply to everyone, including other children and adults they love or trust, and that if something happens that is uncomfortable or violates body safety rules, they need to tell a safe adult,” McVee said.

Criminals often target children who are vulnerable, compliant, isolated or unsure if they will be believed.

“Parents can reduce risk by maintaining open communication, teaching body safety rights, reinforcing that kids can say no to anyone, and making it clear that if they speak up, they will be listened to and supported,” McVee added.

When it comes to schools, parents should ask whether staff are trained to recognize self-care behaviors and whether clear boundary policies are in place.

Parents should ask how low-level anxiety is monitored and what systems prevent children from routinely being alone with an adult.

“Transparency is important when it comes to child sexual abuse,” McVee said.

According to McVee, parents should not ask leading questions after Craig’s crime.

Instead, they should calmly ask if anyone (adult or child) has bothered them, asked them to keep secrets, given them special treatment, or violated body safety rules.

“Kids need to be reassured that they won’t get in trouble for speaking up,” McVee added.

“Direct victims can experience trauma, confusion, shame and long-term psychological harm.

“Other students can also be affected, even if they have not been abused or experienced fear, betrayal or confusion about trust.

“Support from the whole school and restoring trust is very important.”

McVee said the school can rebuild trust, but only through transparency, accountability and demonstrable change.

“Trust is rebuilt through actions, not statements,” he added.

Go to McVee’s website for evidence-based parenting resources and professional training programs designed to help adults recognize grooming behaviors early and have calm, age-appropriate body safety conversations with children.

The resources are focused on prevention, confidence and practical guidance rather than fear, and are available to parents, schools and early learning services.

West does not suggest that there was any system or protocol failure at Frederick Irwin or that the school was in any way responsible for Craig’s crime.