Childcare worker charged over alleged indecent act involving four-year-old in Brisbane
Police allege the incident occurred on July 10 at an Affinity Education Group centre in Tingalpa, Brisbane, Queensland.
The 21-year-old Cleveland man handed himself in to Wynnum Police Station and was charged with one count of indecent treatment of a child, police said.
The childcare provider Affinity Education Group said the man was immediately stood down after complaints were raised.
'Upon becoming aware of complaints regarding the individual, we immediately reported the matter to the relevant authorities, including police, and stood down the individual,' a spokesperson said.
'This matter is being taken extremely seriously and we are providing our full co-operation to the Queensland Police.
'The safety and wellbeing of all children and staff at our centres is our highest priority and we will continue to support families and our team during this time.'
The group confirmed the man held a valid Working With Children Check (Blue Card) and stated the charge only related to one centre.
Affinity has since announced it is fast-tracking several safety initiatives across its national network, including CCTV upgrades, updated child safety training, and secure storage for staff devices.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the childcare safety crisis must be tackled but it will take time.
'The issue in childcare centres won't be solved overnight,' he said.
'It's confronting what is occurring but we're going to confront it head on.
'We are not going to have a situation where monsters can lurk in centres where our most vulnerable and most precious asset — our children — go every day.'
The childcare worker has been granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Cour t on August 4.
Policelink or Crime Stoppers.
charges against former Victorian worker Joshua Dale Brown, who faces more than 70 child sex abuse offences.
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