Victorian government announces child safety overhaul
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Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Victorian government lashed for ‘virtue signaling' policy mandating Indigenous names for all new schools
The Victorian Labor government has been lashed for 'pandering' to inner city progressives with a 'virtue signaling' policy mandating all new schools have Indigenous names. A Herald Sun report has revealed that all six schools opened in Victoria this year have Indigenous names, with 26 more schools to follow in 2026. Victoria's former Education Minister Natalie Hutchins announced the preference for Indigenous names back in 2023, stating it would ensure the 'history, culture and languages of Victoria's First Peoples are strongly embedded in our education system.' Ms Hutchins also claimed using First Nations words for school names would 'contribute to the ongoing process of reconciliation.' But veteran broadcaster and Sky News host Steve Price scorned the claim on Wednesday. 'No it wont, it will simply make you feel good about yourself for yet another virtue signalling move that does zero to help Indigenous poverty,' Price said. Price said the public should not be surprised by the move, given Victoria is currently 'deep into a secret treaty negotiation with Indigenous groups', the details of which are kept secret despite costing taxpayers millions. The veteran broadcaster said all the school naming policy would achieve would be to 'make it impossible for many parents to explain what the name of their school is.' The new school names include: Barayip Primary School in Tarneit (pronounced ba-ray-ip), a Bunurong word meaning spring. Kuyim Primary School in Pakenham (pronounced koo-yim), a Bunurong word meaning kangaroo. Wirrigirri Primary School in Wollert (pronounced werry-jerry), a Bunurong word meaning moon. The other three new schools are all in Melbourne's outer southeastern suburb of Clyde North, which is now home to: Mirniyan Primary School (pronounced mern-ee-yan), a Bunurong word meaning she oak. Turrun Primary School, and (pronounced turr-run), a Bunurong word meaning she oak. Wulerrp Secondary College (pronounced wool-erp), a Wurundjeri-Woi wurrung word meaning messenger Among schools set to be opened next year are Ngurraga School in Werribee South (pronounced ngoo-ruh-guh), a Bunurong-Boonwurrung word meaning koala, and Umarkoo Primary in Wollert (pronounced u-mah-koo), a Wurundjeri-Woi wurrung word meaning everyone. The names have been selected with consultation from traditional owner groups and Geographic Names Victoria, but the final decision was made by the Victorian Education Minister. According to Price, the government ought to instead be focused on the learning outcomes. 'In a week when we learn alarming numbers of year 9 boys, according to Naplan results, can't understand punctuation and spelling with appalling literacy skills, wouldn't we be better off teaching the basics?' he asked.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Child safety warning signs ignored for too long
A childcare safety overhaul is a step in the right direction but warning signs have been ignored for too long, allowing predators to slip through the cracks. A sweeping and damning review of Victoria's childcare sector found the state's childcare watchdogs are failing to keep kids safe. Poor information sharing, legal constraints, chronic underfunding and a system that places the privacy of educators and the pursuit of profits over child safety were just some of the revelations made public on Wednesday. An overhaul is under way, with the government accepting all 22 of the review's recommendations, including the ability to pull a childcare worker's clearances based on unproven allegations. The review was set up in early-July after authorities lifted the lid on Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged with more than 70 sexual abuse offences. He had a valid working with children check. The review said the state's permit regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, should no longer sit within the separate entities of the Department of Government Services and Commission for Children and Young People. The systems should be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator as the trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in "too many places". Child protection organisations have welcomed the recommendations but say gaps have been exploited by predators for too long. "For too long, warning signs have been ignored, systems have failed to communicate, and predators have slipped through the cracks," Bravehearts CEO Alison Geale said. The leading child protection organisation said the reforms "will not just plug gaps, they will fundamentally shift the culture toward one where child protection is proactive, not reactive". "Why have we ended up in a system where we need explicit rules?" early childhood education and care policy expert Caroline Croser-Barlow of The Front Project told AAP. "Children's safety should always be the number one priority." Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin also accused the the Labor government of delaying reforms. "It shouldn't have taken the horrific abuse of Victorian children in childcare to force this government to act," he said. Mr Battin said the government ignored a 2022 warning from the Ombudsman to close dangerous loopholes in the Working With Children Check system. "They were told to fix a broken system and did not. That's a disgrace," he said. The Victorian government has vowed to introduce legislation to state parliament next week to immediately suspend clearances while reassessments are finalised. Under the change, workers who have their clearance refused, revoked or suspended will lose their review rights at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will also be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator. The shift will be accompanied by a doubling of unannounced compliance visits under a standalone childcare sector regulator and harsher penalties for breaches. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A childcare safety overhaul is a step in the right direction but warning signs have been ignored for too long, allowing predators to slip through the cracks. A sweeping and damning review of Victoria's childcare sector found the state's childcare watchdogs are failing to keep kids safe. Poor information sharing, legal constraints, chronic underfunding and a system that places the privacy of educators and the pursuit of profits over child safety were just some of the revelations made public on Wednesday. An overhaul is under way, with the government accepting all 22 of the review's recommendations, including the ability to pull a childcare worker's clearances based on unproven allegations. The review was set up in early-July after authorities lifted the lid on Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged with more than 70 sexual abuse offences. He had a valid working with children check. The review said the state's permit regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, should no longer sit within the separate entities of the Department of Government Services and Commission for Children and Young People. The systems should be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator as the trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in "too many places". Child protection organisations have welcomed the recommendations but say gaps have been exploited by predators for too long. "For too long, warning signs have been ignored, systems have failed to communicate, and predators have slipped through the cracks," Bravehearts CEO Alison Geale said. The leading child protection organisation said the reforms "will not just plug gaps, they will fundamentally shift the culture toward one where child protection is proactive, not reactive". "Why have we ended up in a system where we need explicit rules?" early childhood education and care policy expert Caroline Croser-Barlow of The Front Project told AAP. "Children's safety should always be the number one priority." Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin also accused the the Labor government of delaying reforms. "It shouldn't have taken the horrific abuse of Victorian children in childcare to force this government to act," he said. Mr Battin said the government ignored a 2022 warning from the Ombudsman to close dangerous loopholes in the Working With Children Check system. "They were told to fix a broken system and did not. That's a disgrace," he said. The Victorian government has vowed to introduce legislation to state parliament next week to immediately suspend clearances while reassessments are finalised. Under the change, workers who have their clearance refused, revoked or suspended will lose their review rights at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will also be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator. The shift will be accompanied by a doubling of unannounced compliance visits under a standalone childcare sector regulator and harsher penalties for breaches. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A childcare safety overhaul is a step in the right direction but warning signs have been ignored for too long, allowing predators to slip through the cracks. A sweeping and damning review of Victoria's childcare sector found the state's childcare watchdogs are failing to keep kids safe. Poor information sharing, legal constraints, chronic underfunding and a system that places the privacy of educators and the pursuit of profits over child safety were just some of the revelations made public on Wednesday. An overhaul is under way, with the government accepting all 22 of the review's recommendations, including the ability to pull a childcare worker's clearances based on unproven allegations. The review was set up in early-July after authorities lifted the lid on Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged with more than 70 sexual abuse offences. He had a valid working with children check. The review said the state's permit regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, should no longer sit within the separate entities of the Department of Government Services and Commission for Children and Young People. The systems should be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator as the trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in "too many places". Child protection organisations have welcomed the recommendations but say gaps have been exploited by predators for too long. "For too long, warning signs have been ignored, systems have failed to communicate, and predators have slipped through the cracks," Bravehearts CEO Alison Geale said. The leading child protection organisation said the reforms "will not just plug gaps, they will fundamentally shift the culture toward one where child protection is proactive, not reactive". "Why have we ended up in a system where we need explicit rules?" early childhood education and care policy expert Caroline Croser-Barlow of The Front Project told AAP. "Children's safety should always be the number one priority." Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin also accused the the Labor government of delaying reforms. "It shouldn't have taken the horrific abuse of Victorian children in childcare to force this government to act," he said. Mr Battin said the government ignored a 2022 warning from the Ombudsman to close dangerous loopholes in the Working With Children Check system. "They were told to fix a broken system and did not. That's a disgrace," he said. The Victorian government has vowed to introduce legislation to state parliament next week to immediately suspend clearances while reassessments are finalised. Under the change, workers who have their clearance refused, revoked or suspended will lose their review rights at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will also be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator. The shift will be accompanied by a doubling of unannounced compliance visits under a standalone childcare sector regulator and harsher penalties for breaches. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A childcare safety overhaul is a step in the right direction but warning signs have been ignored for too long, allowing predators to slip through the cracks. A sweeping and damning review of Victoria's childcare sector found the state's childcare watchdogs are failing to keep kids safe. Poor information sharing, legal constraints, chronic underfunding and a system that places the privacy of educators and the pursuit of profits over child safety were just some of the revelations made public on Wednesday. An overhaul is under way, with the government accepting all 22 of the review's recommendations, including the ability to pull a childcare worker's clearances based on unproven allegations. The review was set up in early-July after authorities lifted the lid on Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged with more than 70 sexual abuse offences. He had a valid working with children check. The review said the state's permit regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, should no longer sit within the separate entities of the Department of Government Services and Commission for Children and Young People. The systems should be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator as the trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in "too many places". Child protection organisations have welcomed the recommendations but say gaps have been exploited by predators for too long. "For too long, warning signs have been ignored, systems have failed to communicate, and predators have slipped through the cracks," Bravehearts CEO Alison Geale said. The leading child protection organisation said the reforms "will not just plug gaps, they will fundamentally shift the culture toward one where child protection is proactive, not reactive". "Why have we ended up in a system where we need explicit rules?" early childhood education and care policy expert Caroline Croser-Barlow of The Front Project told AAP. "Children's safety should always be the number one priority." Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin also accused the the Labor government of delaying reforms. "It shouldn't have taken the horrific abuse of Victorian children in childcare to force this government to act," he said. Mr Battin said the government ignored a 2022 warning from the Ombudsman to close dangerous loopholes in the Working With Children Check system. "They were told to fix a broken system and did not. That's a disgrace," he said. The Victorian government has vowed to introduce legislation to state parliament next week to immediately suspend clearances while reassessments are finalised. Under the change, workers who have their clearance refused, revoked or suspended will lose their review rights at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will also be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator. The shift will be accompanied by a doubling of unannounced compliance visits under a standalone childcare sector regulator and harsher penalties for breaches. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Child safety warning signs ignored for too long
A childcare safety overhaul is a step in the right direction but warning signs have been ignored for too long, allowing predators to slip through the cracks. A sweeping and damning review of Victoria's childcare sector found the state's childcare watchdogs are failing to keep kids safe. Poor information sharing, legal constraints, chronic underfunding and a system that places the privacy of educators and the pursuit of profits over child safety were just some of the revelations made public on Wednesday. An overhaul is under way, with the government accepting all 22 of the review's recommendations, including the ability to pull a childcare worker's clearances based on unproven allegations. The review was set up in early-July after authorities lifted the lid on Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged with more than 70 sexual abuse offences. He had a valid working with children check. The review said the state's permit regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, should no longer sit within the separate entities of the Department of Government Services and Commission for Children and Young People. The systems should be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator as the trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in "too many places". Child protection organisations have welcomed the recommendations but say gaps have been exploited by predators for too long. "For too long, warning signs have been ignored, systems have failed to communicate, and predators have slipped through the cracks," Bravehearts CEO Alison Geale said. The leading child protection organisation said the reforms "will not just plug gaps, they will fundamentally shift the culture toward one where child protection is proactive, not reactive". "Why have we ended up in a system where we need explicit rules?" early childhood education and care policy expert Caroline Croser-Barlow of The Front Project told AAP. "Children's safety should always be the number one priority." Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin also accused the the Labor government of delaying reforms. "It shouldn't have taken the horrific abuse of Victorian children in childcare to force this government to act," he said. Mr Battin said the government ignored a 2022 warning from the Ombudsman to close dangerous loopholes in the Working With Children Check system. "They were told to fix a broken system and did not. That's a disgrace," he said. The Victorian government has vowed to introduce legislation to state parliament next week to immediately suspend clearances while reassessments are finalised. Under the change, workers who have their clearance refused, revoked or suspended will lose their review rights at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will also be brought together under the same roof of the social services regulator. The shift will be accompanied by a doubling of unannounced compliance visits under a standalone childcare sector regulator and harsher penalties for breaches. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
