Sexual assault counselor charged with heinous attack of mentally ill patient at rape crisis center

A Geelong psychologist, Greg Leonard Jackman, has recently been charged with two counts of sexually penetrating a 25-year-old woman who was under his care at a rape crisis center. The alleged incidents occurred while he was working as a sexual assault counselor at the Geelong Sexual Assault and Family Violence (SAFV) Centre. The charges stem from accusations that Mr. Jackman sent the client masturbation videos before allegedly sexually penetrating her orally and vaginally in 2019.

Following the reported misconduct, Mr. Jackman resigned from the SAFV Centre in December 2020. Since then, it has been revealed that he has been working with Aboriginal foster children and NDIS clients. He held the position of “Foster Care Team Leader” at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, a publicly funded Indigenous service in the Geelong area. Wathaurong provided Mr. Jackman with a character reference, which was used at a recent AHPRA tribunal hearing earlier this year.

The case has shed light on a loophole in Australia regarding the title of “social worker.” Unlike in other countries where the term is a legally protected title, in Australia, anyone can identify as a social worker without penalty. This has led to concerns about unqualified individuals operating in critical areas such as mental health, child protection, family violence, and disability services. The Australian Association of Social Workers has called for the national registration of social workers to address this issue.

The alleged victim, known as Jessica, reported the allegations to the SAFV centre in December 2020, leading to Mr. Jackman’s resignation. She has since reported the matter to the Victorian police, the Health Complaints Commissioner, and AHPRA. Jessica expressed relief that Mr. Jackman is facing charges and has been advocating for changes to ensure the accountability and qualifications of social workers in Australia.

Mr. Jackman is scheduled to appear in court on September 23 at Geelong Magistrates’ Court for a committal hearing. The federal health department has been contacted for comment on the matter. Nina Funnell, a Walkley Award-winning freelance journalist, has been covering the story. Please note that Jessica is a pseudonym used to protect her identity as a sexual assault complainant in Victoria.