Child Abuse, SVCC, & SA Health

• Abuse occurs at Southern Vales Christian College (SVCC)

  Multiple students at SVCC, myself included, experienced abuse by Stewart Leggett. He threatened these students to prevent them from disclosing the abuse to their parents.

  The abuse occurred and escalated over several years.

• My doctor at CBMC receives a diagnosis of Complex PTSD

  I sought help from Christies Beach Medical Centre (CBMC) for symptoms that began following the abuse. CBMC made a referral for further assessment, and as a result, my doctor received a fax indicating a diagnosis of “Complex PTSD.”

  The fax also recommended that I stay in regular contact with my doctor for ongoing management of the condition, as well as a referral to a nearby youth center called Second Story for assistance with “socialisation.” However, I was not informed of this diagnosis at the time.

• Dr Mark Fuller assumes my care following Second Story referral

  While attending a social group at Second Story, an employee named Shane Curley took me out of the group, spoke to me, and arranged for me to see Dr. Mark Fuller, a doctor at Second Story. Shane informed Dr. Fuller that I had been referred to the group by my doctor at CBMC.

  In my first meeting with Dr. Mark Fuller, he told me that he would take over my care going forward. I asked him about my medical records from CBMC (which, unbeknownst to us both, contained the PTSD diagnosis). Dr. Mark Fuller explained that he preferred not to review previous records, opting instead to “start fresh.” When asked about my condition, I mentioned an online quiz I took following the abuse but before the PTSD diagnosis was made, the result of this online quiz told me that I had a social anxiety disorder, which I communicated to him.

• The abuse and the connection to the PTSD symptoms are finally realised

  Over several years of unfruitful appointments with Dr. Mark Fuller, the connection between the abuse and my symptoms finally became clear. This revelation explained the issues I had been experiencing since the abuse and provided context for the medical help I had been seeking.

  I initially attempted to report the abuse to the police at Wakefield Street police station, speaking with Senior Constable Grant Butler. However, Butler chose not to take a formal report, instead stating he would “ask around upstairs.”

  Seeking legal advice, I approached a lawyer at the Law Society of SA, who referred me to Mal Byrne at Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB). Byrne contacted SVCC on my behalf and requested that my doctor get in touch. In hindsight, it seems Byrne was reluctant to proceed with the cost of reviewing my medical records, which included the PTSD diagnosis, or to commission an independent medical report without first speaking to my GP, Dr. Mark Fuller, which Dr. Mark Fuller was aware of.

• SVCC extorts me and my family, Dr Mark Fuller refuses to contact Mal Byrne

  SVCC, through their legal representation at Minter Ellison, responded with threats to “thoroughly investigate” personal family matters that had been shared with Stewart Leggett during private meetings he personally arranged with my mother after the abuse began. However, the school did not pursue any information from me about other teachers I witnessed abusing students or the identities of other affected students. The other teachers I saw abusing students may still work there today.

  Dr. Mark Fuller expressed frustration with Mal Byrne’s handling of the case, insisting that Byrne should contact him directly and calling him “very unprofessional”. Since becoming aware of the abuse and its connection to my symptoms, Dr. Mark Fuller has exhibited significant anxiety about the situation, which I believe continues to this day.