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Cadet in Skype scandal leaves Defence

Kate, the officer cadet at the centre of the ADFA Skype scandal, has left the defence force.

Kate, the RAAF cadet at the centre of the Australian Defence Force Academy "skype scandal", has left the defence force.

Defence has confirmed that Officer Cadet "Kate" was no longer a member of the Australian Defence Force, a Department of Defence spokesperson said.

For privacy reasons no further details were provided.

However it's understood she left this week after seeking a discharge on medical grounds.

In March 2011, Kate - not her real name - was 18 and embarking on a career in the defence force after being accepted to ADFA.

But then she agreed to sex with a fellow cadet Daniel McDonald in his room on the ADFA campus.

Unknown to her, he filmed their encounter on his computer webcam and streamed the vision live to other cadets viewing in a nearby room.

Appalled at the betrayal, slow progress in the defence investigation and a lack of support, Kate went to the media, with her story broadcast on Network Ten on April 5, 2011.

Community outrage prompted defence to embark on a range of reforms. That culminated in March 2012 with the launch of Pathway to Change, a five-year strategy for cultural change.

As the scandal unfolded, a large number of serving and former defence personnel came forward to recount their own experiences of sexual abuse, harassment and bullying.

The Defence Abuse Response task force is now examining many of those allegations.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


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