A 12-year-old boy with a disability alleged to be the victim of indecent treatment in Cairns watch house has been flown to Brisbane and placed in housing "similar to a correctional facility", according to a whistleblower familiar with the case.
Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
The ABC understands the boy was placed in Wacol's forensic disability precinct in a house with alarms and an internal locking system, often used for people who demonstrate high-risk behaviour.
A whistleblower said the child's complex disability and mental health conditions had left the government with few accommodation options in lieu of a secure care model, which exists in other states like Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales.
Secure care is a type of out-of-home care for children that are often at significant risk of harming themselves or others.
The child is receiving various supports and has access to education and recreational activities, according to the whistleblower.
"They are paying a lot of money for him to be there. They don't know what to do with him,"
they said.
"It's very problematic."
The boy has been deemed vulnerable to exploitation by peers and adults due to his complex background.
In February, ABC News revealed the boy was allegedly tormented by an older child for more than an hour and coerced to drink toilet water and urine.
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