Safety regulations in Australia’s childcare system are being heavily scrutinised after a childcare worker in Victoria was charged with more than 70 child sexual abuse offences on Tuesday.
Victorian police arrested and charged 26-year-old Joshua Brown with the offences, which included sexual assault and producing child abuse materials. The charges related to alleged victims at the Creative Garden childcare centre in Point Cook.
Due to the nature of the allegations, health authorities have recommended 1,200 children linked to the case be tested for potential infectious diseases.
Police said Brown had worked at about 20 childcare centres over about eight years and held a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC), a background check conducted by the government that screens people for criminal history and professional conduct findings.
On Wednesday, a second man was charged with serious offences related to child abuse material and sex offences, including bestiality. According to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, his name is Michael Simon Wilson, from Wyndham Vale. Court documents show Wilson is known to Brown but it’s not known if they are linked.
In light of the horrific news, CEO of The Parenthood, Georgie Dent tells Women’s Agenda that “it’s a painful wake-up call that systems matter” and Australia’s system is “not strong enough”.
“The allegations emerging from early learning centres in Victoria are deeply distressing. The nature of the charges has shaken families and communities to their core. Early childhood education should be a place of safety, trust and care — and the idea that this trust may have been so profoundly violated is every parent’s worst fear,” Dent said.
“Our hearts are with the families directly affected, and with every parent now feeling rattled and unsure.”
“For too long, the early learning sector has grown rapidly in response to federal funding incentives, without the matching investment in quality, regulation or workforce support. The vast majority of educators are doing exceptional work under pressure. But when oversight is fragmented, regulators aren’t fully funded to uphold quality standards and some providers prioritise profits over child safety and the risks grow.”
Dent notes that the issue isn’t just about “rooting out bad actors”, but rather about “designing a system that protects by default”.
Government action
Education Minister Jason Clare has said he wants the government to have the power to strip funding from childcare centres not meeting safety standards. Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Clare said that education ministers across the country met last Friday to discuss the matter, following the allegations of the childcare worker in Victoria.
“The real power that we have as a Commonwealth government is funding,” Clare said. “If the centre’s not up to scratch, if they’re not meeting safety standards and quality standards, there’s got to be consequences.”
“I’ve asked my department to get the legislation drafted as quickly as we possibly can.”
Along with the power to cut funding, one of the key changes Clare highlights is the need to get personal phones out of childcare centres, which is a recommendation by the National Safety Regulator.
The Victorian government has said it will change its Working with Children Check (WWCC) laws, with the first step taking place in August.
Currently in Victoria, only criminal charges or a regulatory finding can trigger a check being revoked. The government said that screening regulations would change so the Department of Government Services could “take into account prohibition notices issued from the Department of Education when determining or revoking a person’s clearance to work with children”.
While Dent has welcomed a greater focus on funding and safety outcomes, she says “we can’t settle for tinkering at the edges anymore”.
“This is a moment to act decisively and build the system families and children deserve,” says Dent, who is calling for a National Early Childhood Commission, an independent body to deliver clear accountability, consistent national standards and genuine oversight across the country.
“Families and children deserve an early childhood education and care system where safety and quality are guaranteed, not left to chance,” she says.
“Educators need training, support and a professional environment that reflects the importance of their work. And children deserve to be safe, supported and seen — every single day.”
The Victorian Government has established a webpage with information for families affected by the allegations that can be found at www.vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or you can contact Brave Hearts on 1800 272 831.