The head of an advocacy group for Indigenous children tendered her resignation yesterday following charges laid against her partner in relation to allegations of historic sexual assault.
Yorta Yorta woman Angela Singh stepped down from the role of chief executive of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) just days after 20 charges were brought against her partner Wayne Muir, the former head of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), in court on Friday.
Ms Singh was appointed to the role in May after 25-years experience in the state and Commonwealth public service during which time she held senior positions that included Executive Director for the Koorie Outcomes Division, Victorian Department of Education and Training, and at the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Department of Premier and Cabinet.
However, Ms Singh's appointment to SNAICC was viewed as controversial as it came months after the ABC's 7.30 program aired a story in February containing accusations of rape, indecent assault and sexual harassment against her partenr from four seperate women.
Two of the alleged victims were children when the alleged incidents occurred between 1987 and 2003.
In a written statement released yesterday, SNAICC said Ms SIngh "should be recognised for her achievements and her strengths" and in her time as CEO had made "a valuable contribution" to the peak body's work. The statement also condemned "all forms of violence and abuse against children".
"Allegations of sexual assault must always be taken with the utmost seriousness and investigated by the relevant authorities," it said.
