The chicken shed at Quamby

At Quamby youth detention centre in Canberra, a chicken shed out of sight of security cameras was where guard Brett Dennis allegedly took boys to sexually assault them. Detainees knew what happened there.

“He'd only take one at a time down to the chicken shed. That's where he'd sexually assault me.”

At least 13 survivors allege abuse

At least thirteen former detainees of the ACT's youth justice system between two thousand three and two thousand thirteen allege that guard Brett Dennis sexually abused them. Everyone knew him as Chicken.

James's 22 months at Quamby

James, an Indigenous man, spent twenty two months locked up at Quamby before it closed. He alleges Dennis sexually assaulted him multiple times, including during strip-searches, and that he was too afraid to speak up.

“Everyone knew something was wrong. I was quiet at the time. I should have spoke up back then but I was living in fear.”

Trauma lasting 20 years

James was fourteen when first incarcerated in the early two thousands.His childhood involved domestic violence and foster care before drugs and stealing cars.

Dennis's employment and death

Dennis worked at Quamby and later Bimberi youth justice centre until about two thousand fifteen.He died by suicide in two thousand seventeen.

Quamby's history and closure

Quamby was built in nineteen sixty two and incarcerated children as young as ten. It closed in two thousand eight after the ACT government shut it down due to human rights concerns.

22 civil cases now before courts

Twenty two plaintiffs have lodged civil proceedings alleging historical sexual abuse by staff and fellow detainees at Quamby or Bimberi, with the ACT government named as defendant.Thirty one personal injury claims are at pre-court stage.

David's first night: drugs and assault

David met Dennis on his first night at Quamby as a teenager. Dennis gave him ice through the cell door slot. David alleges Dennis then sexually abused him on several occasions and supplied him methamphetamines.

“He gave me my first hit. That was the end. I was fucked.”

David's court claim: five rapes alleged

In documents filed in two thousand twenty five with the ACT supreme court, David alleges Dennis raped him five times, supplied and encouraged methamphetamine use, and that the ACT government breached its duty of care…

What the claim says should have happened

David's statement of claim says the ACT should have maintained a system encouraging children to report misconduct, removed abusive staff, implemented mandatory reporting of child abuse, and appointed a representative to safeguard children.

ACT government's response to David

The ACT government admitted it had a duty of care but denied failing to take reasonable precautions.

Michael's one night: lasting trauma

Michael was sixteen when locked up for one night at Quamby.He alleges Dennis sexually abused and raped him in the chicken shed.

“He took me down to the chicken shed. I thought it was normal. It fucked everything. It changed my whole life.”

Michael's dismissed allegations

When Michael tried to tell courts what happened at his next appearance, he says no one believed him. He entered the system as a troubled youth and his allegations were dismissed as not credible.

“No one believed me. Who's gonna believe a little shit kid?”

Lawyer Kirsten Nasser's assessment

Kirsten Nasser from Maliganis Edwards Johnson represents thirty clients alleging mistreatment or abuse at ACT youth detention. She says the ACT government's response is worse than responses from religious organisations to institutional sexual abuse.

“I've worked for clients who've experienced institutional sexual abuse from religious organisations such as the Catholic church and the ACT government's response is worse.”

Accusations of stonewalling and delays

Nasser's firm claims the ACT government has been withholding critical personal records and stonewalling civil cases.It takes twelve to eighteen months or two years to get records relating to clients, causing significant delays in proceedings.

“That's why there's been such a delay in the proceedings that we have on foot at the moment.”

Royal commission findings on youth detention abuse

The national royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse heard from more than six thousand five hundred survivors.Eight percent were abused in youth detention.

Brian's multiple assaults at Bimberi

Brian was twelve when first locked up at Bimberi in two thousand eight and jailed again in two thousand thirteen.He alleges Dennis sexually abused him on multiple occasions at night in his cell, including rape.

Brian cannot escape the memories

Now thirty, Brian says the abuse destroyed his life and he turned to drugs and alcohol.He cannot escape reminders.

“I see his name everywhere. He's got the name Chicken, I'll see KFC and it's chicken. I can't escape it.”

What survivors want from the ACT

Nasser says her clients want recognition and acknowledgement. They want someone to say the ACT is taking this seriously, that wrongs were done to them, and to explain how the government is moving forward.

“They just want their moment of someone coming along and saying: I'm sorry, we're taking this seriously. We acknowledge that wrongs were done to you, and this is how we're moving forward.”