Childcare workers sound alarm over safety concerns
That's according to a union survey of 2000 childcare workers, with more than half concerned that for-profit providers do not prioritise safety, care of children or quality education.
Allegations of child sex abuse from a former childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown sent shockwaves through the industry, with the 26-year-old charged with more than 70 sex offences involving eight children at a centre in Melbourne's west.
He was arrested in May and it was revealed he worked at 20 childcare facilities across Melbourne from 2017 to 2025.
The accusations sharpened focus on centre safety and sparked calls for reform, with a state government review underway in addition to a criminal investigation by police.
More than three quarters of educators say their centres operate below minimum staffing requirements at least weekly and 42 per cent say it happened every day, according to a United Workers Union survey conducted before the allegations became public.
Some 83 per cent said safety was compromised by a common staffing loophole that allows centres to move educators between rooms and count educators not on the floor towards mandated staffing level requirements.
"Educators tell us that what was supposed to be a common sense stop gap for changes that occur at centres through the day has become an over-used staffing loophole," the union's early education director Carolyn Smith said.
"(It is) entrenching educators regularly working below minimum staffing requirements in their rooms".
She claimed the system fails workers and children, ramping up calls for national regulation and funding for the sector.
"Widespread understaffing and a lack of inclusion support staff impacts the level of care children receive," she said.
An anonymous worker from Victoria told the survey they "can't even guarantee the safety of the children and myself."
"I feel sad, unsafe and stressful every day," they said.
Major childcare operator G8 Education will put CCTV cameras into more than 400 centres following Brown's alleged sexual abuse of children and order an independent review once criminal proceedings are finalised.
"These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved," chief executive Pejman Okhovat said.
"I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through."
The ASX-listed company lost more than $170 million in value since the allegations were aired.
A parent of one child Brown allegedly abused is suing the childcare giant, while more than 100 families are seeking advice about their legal options.
Some 2600 families and carers who had children at the centres where Brown worked have been sent letters and more than 1200 children recommended to undergo testing for infectious diseases.
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The Advertiser
18 hours ago
- The Advertiser
I worked in childcare, and these are the red flags parents can spot
I was horrified and shocked to read that an early childhood educator, Joshua Brown, had been charged with more than 70 offences against children aged between five months and two years old. My first thought, as a previous trainee doing work experience in childcare centres in Sydney, was how could an educator get away with this and go unnoticed? Over a few days, I read more and reflected on my own experiences. I realised, actually it could be quite easy. My experience is certainly not comprehensive - I completed 240 unpaid hours (about 30 days) in baby and toddler rooms across two centres. But, just from that, I can identify some measures which may help keep children safe. There are also some red flags parents and carers can keep in mind when choosing a centre for their children. The early childhood education workforce is highly casualised. Centres may have full-time educators as room leaders or managers, but rely on agency staff to fill in gaps rather than hire above ratios. There is a massive shortage of educators, probably because it is low-paid and emotionally exhausting work. The teachers I worked with often spoke about leaving to "work private" - as a nanny - or retraining. I have not been in the sector for years, but constantly receive texts, emails and calls from recruiters. (Brown is said to have worked at 11 centres from 2024 until he was charged in May 2025). Having more permanent staff is better for children who can develop attachments and be cared for by people who know them and their idiosyncrasies. More importantly, centre managers and educators get to know each other, develop and understand child safe policies and may be better at picking up on suspicious behaviour. To be clear, trusted people do abuse children. We know that perpetrators will groom parents and communities, earning the trust to get away with abuse. Convicted paedophile and Brisbane educator Ashley Paul Griffith was invited into his victims' homes. I am just suggesting that a casualised workforce is not an environment that prioritises child safety. Permanent and experienced staff may be more likely to question unsafe practices, raise concerns about another educator's unusual behaviour or notice a child is acting out of character. It is easier to track offenders. If you notice lots of unfamiliar faces at pick-up or drop-off, I would start asking questions. More than once, I found myself alone with kids in a room out of sight of educators while working as a trainee at one centre. There was a small room off the main area with dress-up clothes and books, and the toddlers liked to drag me in there. Sometimes they would even shut the door behind them. This is obviously a massive red flag. Children should be well supervised, ideally not left alone with only one educator. Sydney-based educator Nick Stephens told Triple J: "Anyone that works as a quality service has that question ... how was a male allowed one-on-one with a child for an extended period? "Ratios need to change. The more adults you have in a room working with children, the less likely something like this can happen." An open-plan environment increases visibility. Children are very small, so the furniture and walls should be smaller. It might not smell great, but nappy changes can be done in the public space. Toilets (for children, not staff), don't need doors, or frankly even walls. Big glass windows that let you see inside and out are great. Can children (and educators) hide under forts or tunnels, or behind playground equipment? There are some practicalities that are hard to address. Babies will probably need a quiet and dark room to sleep (and they need their sleep). You cannot have two teachers leave seven children to put one baby down. Perhaps we can consider CCTV in areas like this, or even the entire premises. There are issues around the privacy of children and staff, but when weighing it against child safety, I think it is worth discussing. Many parents feel guilty enough for leaving their children in care, but in a modern world, it is a necessary sacrifice to keep a roof over their heads. Research also shows disadvantaged children benefit from being in high-quality childcare (but poor quality care leads to deficits in language and cognitive function). I encourage parents to ask questions like: How often are strangers looking after my baby? Are there any places for a predator to, literally, hide? But if you don't like the answer, there may not be much you can do. Finding another centre can actually be impossible in some areas, and good ones often have long waitlists. Nannies, au pairs and babysitters are expensive and subject to far less supervision or scrutiny than educators in a centre. READ MORE: The sickening thing is that predators will find a way to abuse children, including in front of others. The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre reports that one in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused, yet most cases do not occur in educational settings. Perpetrators are fathers, step-fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, cousins and friends of the family. Those calling for male educators to be banned should perhaps also consider banning parents, especially fathers, from caring for their own children. If a predator cannot work in a childcare centre, they will find another way. UNSW research from 2023 found one in six Australian men have sexual feelings towards children, and one in 10 have offended. Banning phones might prevent an abuser from recording and sharing their abuse, but it will not stop them from doing it. Protecting your child can feel almost impossible right now; and that is because if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to protect them. This was originally published on Substack. I was horrified and shocked to read that an early childhood educator, Joshua Brown, had been charged with more than 70 offences against children aged between five months and two years old. My first thought, as a previous trainee doing work experience in childcare centres in Sydney, was how could an educator get away with this and go unnoticed? Over a few days, I read more and reflected on my own experiences. I realised, actually it could be quite easy. My experience is certainly not comprehensive - I completed 240 unpaid hours (about 30 days) in baby and toddler rooms across two centres. But, just from that, I can identify some measures which may help keep children safe. There are also some red flags parents and carers can keep in mind when choosing a centre for their children. The early childhood education workforce is highly casualised. Centres may have full-time educators as room leaders or managers, but rely on agency staff to fill in gaps rather than hire above ratios. There is a massive shortage of educators, probably because it is low-paid and emotionally exhausting work. The teachers I worked with often spoke about leaving to "work private" - as a nanny - or retraining. I have not been in the sector for years, but constantly receive texts, emails and calls from recruiters. (Brown is said to have worked at 11 centres from 2024 until he was charged in May 2025). Having more permanent staff is better for children who can develop attachments and be cared for by people who know them and their idiosyncrasies. More importantly, centre managers and educators get to know each other, develop and understand child safe policies and may be better at picking up on suspicious behaviour. To be clear, trusted people do abuse children. We know that perpetrators will groom parents and communities, earning the trust to get away with abuse. Convicted paedophile and Brisbane educator Ashley Paul Griffith was invited into his victims' homes. I am just suggesting that a casualised workforce is not an environment that prioritises child safety. Permanent and experienced staff may be more likely to question unsafe practices, raise concerns about another educator's unusual behaviour or notice a child is acting out of character. It is easier to track offenders. If you notice lots of unfamiliar faces at pick-up or drop-off, I would start asking questions. More than once, I found myself alone with kids in a room out of sight of educators while working as a trainee at one centre. There was a small room off the main area with dress-up clothes and books, and the toddlers liked to drag me in there. Sometimes they would even shut the door behind them. This is obviously a massive red flag. Children should be well supervised, ideally not left alone with only one educator. Sydney-based educator Nick Stephens told Triple J: "Anyone that works as a quality service has that question ... how was a male allowed one-on-one with a child for an extended period? "Ratios need to change. The more adults you have in a room working with children, the less likely something like this can happen." An open-plan environment increases visibility. Children are very small, so the furniture and walls should be smaller. It might not smell great, but nappy changes can be done in the public space. Toilets (for children, not staff), don't need doors, or frankly even walls. Big glass windows that let you see inside and out are great. Can children (and educators) hide under forts or tunnels, or behind playground equipment? There are some practicalities that are hard to address. Babies will probably need a quiet and dark room to sleep (and they need their sleep). You cannot have two teachers leave seven children to put one baby down. Perhaps we can consider CCTV in areas like this, or even the entire premises. There are issues around the privacy of children and staff, but when weighing it against child safety, I think it is worth discussing. Many parents feel guilty enough for leaving their children in care, but in a modern world, it is a necessary sacrifice to keep a roof over their heads. Research also shows disadvantaged children benefit from being in high-quality childcare (but poor quality care leads to deficits in language and cognitive function). I encourage parents to ask questions like: How often are strangers looking after my baby? Are there any places for a predator to, literally, hide? But if you don't like the answer, there may not be much you can do. Finding another centre can actually be impossible in some areas, and good ones often have long waitlists. Nannies, au pairs and babysitters are expensive and subject to far less supervision or scrutiny than educators in a centre. READ MORE: The sickening thing is that predators will find a way to abuse children, including in front of others. The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre reports that one in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused, yet most cases do not occur in educational settings. Perpetrators are fathers, step-fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, cousins and friends of the family. Those calling for male educators to be banned should perhaps also consider banning parents, especially fathers, from caring for their own children. If a predator cannot work in a childcare centre, they will find another way. UNSW research from 2023 found one in six Australian men have sexual feelings towards children, and one in 10 have offended. Banning phones might prevent an abuser from recording and sharing their abuse, but it will not stop them from doing it. Protecting your child can feel almost impossible right now; and that is because if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to protect them. This was originally published on Substack. I was horrified and shocked to read that an early childhood educator, Joshua Brown, had been charged with more than 70 offences against children aged between five months and two years old. My first thought, as a previous trainee doing work experience in childcare centres in Sydney, was how could an educator get away with this and go unnoticed? Over a few days, I read more and reflected on my own experiences. I realised, actually it could be quite easy. My experience is certainly not comprehensive - I completed 240 unpaid hours (about 30 days) in baby and toddler rooms across two centres. But, just from that, I can identify some measures which may help keep children safe. There are also some red flags parents and carers can keep in mind when choosing a centre for their children. The early childhood education workforce is highly casualised. Centres may have full-time educators as room leaders or managers, but rely on agency staff to fill in gaps rather than hire above ratios. There is a massive shortage of educators, probably because it is low-paid and emotionally exhausting work. The teachers I worked with often spoke about leaving to "work private" - as a nanny - or retraining. I have not been in the sector for years, but constantly receive texts, emails and calls from recruiters. (Brown is said to have worked at 11 centres from 2024 until he was charged in May 2025). Having more permanent staff is better for children who can develop attachments and be cared for by people who know them and their idiosyncrasies. More importantly, centre managers and educators get to know each other, develop and understand child safe policies and may be better at picking up on suspicious behaviour. To be clear, trusted people do abuse children. We know that perpetrators will groom parents and communities, earning the trust to get away with abuse. Convicted paedophile and Brisbane educator Ashley Paul Griffith was invited into his victims' homes. I am just suggesting that a casualised workforce is not an environment that prioritises child safety. Permanent and experienced staff may be more likely to question unsafe practices, raise concerns about another educator's unusual behaviour or notice a child is acting out of character. It is easier to track offenders. If you notice lots of unfamiliar faces at pick-up or drop-off, I would start asking questions. More than once, I found myself alone with kids in a room out of sight of educators while working as a trainee at one centre. There was a small room off the main area with dress-up clothes and books, and the toddlers liked to drag me in there. Sometimes they would even shut the door behind them. This is obviously a massive red flag. Children should be well supervised, ideally not left alone with only one educator. Sydney-based educator Nick Stephens told Triple J: "Anyone that works as a quality service has that question ... how was a male allowed one-on-one with a child for an extended period? "Ratios need to change. The more adults you have in a room working with children, the less likely something like this can happen." An open-plan environment increases visibility. Children are very small, so the furniture and walls should be smaller. It might not smell great, but nappy changes can be done in the public space. Toilets (for children, not staff), don't need doors, or frankly even walls. Big glass windows that let you see inside and out are great. Can children (and educators) hide under forts or tunnels, or behind playground equipment? There are some practicalities that are hard to address. Babies will probably need a quiet and dark room to sleep (and they need their sleep). You cannot have two teachers leave seven children to put one baby down. Perhaps we can consider CCTV in areas like this, or even the entire premises. There are issues around the privacy of children and staff, but when weighing it against child safety, I think it is worth discussing. Many parents feel guilty enough for leaving their children in care, but in a modern world, it is a necessary sacrifice to keep a roof over their heads. Research also shows disadvantaged children benefit from being in high-quality childcare (but poor quality care leads to deficits in language and cognitive function). I encourage parents to ask questions like: How often are strangers looking after my baby? Are there any places for a predator to, literally, hide? But if you don't like the answer, there may not be much you can do. Finding another centre can actually be impossible in some areas, and good ones often have long waitlists. Nannies, au pairs and babysitters are expensive and subject to far less supervision or scrutiny than educators in a centre. READ MORE: The sickening thing is that predators will find a way to abuse children, including in front of others. The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre reports that one in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused, yet most cases do not occur in educational settings. Perpetrators are fathers, step-fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, cousins and friends of the family. Those calling for male educators to be banned should perhaps also consider banning parents, especially fathers, from caring for their own children. If a predator cannot work in a childcare centre, they will find another way. UNSW research from 2023 found one in six Australian men have sexual feelings towards children, and one in 10 have offended. Banning phones might prevent an abuser from recording and sharing their abuse, but it will not stop them from doing it. Protecting your child can feel almost impossible right now; and that is because if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to protect them. This was originally published on Substack. I was horrified and shocked to read that an early childhood educator, Joshua Brown, had been charged with more than 70 offences against children aged between five months and two years old. My first thought, as a previous trainee doing work experience in childcare centres in Sydney, was how could an educator get away with this and go unnoticed? Over a few days, I read more and reflected on my own experiences. I realised, actually it could be quite easy. My experience is certainly not comprehensive - I completed 240 unpaid hours (about 30 days) in baby and toddler rooms across two centres. But, just from that, I can identify some measures which may help keep children safe. There are also some red flags parents and carers can keep in mind when choosing a centre for their children. The early childhood education workforce is highly casualised. Centres may have full-time educators as room leaders or managers, but rely on agency staff to fill in gaps rather than hire above ratios. There is a massive shortage of educators, probably because it is low-paid and emotionally exhausting work. The teachers I worked with often spoke about leaving to "work private" - as a nanny - or retraining. I have not been in the sector for years, but constantly receive texts, emails and calls from recruiters. (Brown is said to have worked at 11 centres from 2024 until he was charged in May 2025). Having more permanent staff is better for children who can develop attachments and be cared for by people who know them and their idiosyncrasies. More importantly, centre managers and educators get to know each other, develop and understand child safe policies and may be better at picking up on suspicious behaviour. To be clear, trusted people do abuse children. We know that perpetrators will groom parents and communities, earning the trust to get away with abuse. Convicted paedophile and Brisbane educator Ashley Paul Griffith was invited into his victims' homes. I am just suggesting that a casualised workforce is not an environment that prioritises child safety. Permanent and experienced staff may be more likely to question unsafe practices, raise concerns about another educator's unusual behaviour or notice a child is acting out of character. It is easier to track offenders. If you notice lots of unfamiliar faces at pick-up or drop-off, I would start asking questions. More than once, I found myself alone with kids in a room out of sight of educators while working as a trainee at one centre. There was a small room off the main area with dress-up clothes and books, and the toddlers liked to drag me in there. Sometimes they would even shut the door behind them. This is obviously a massive red flag. Children should be well supervised, ideally not left alone with only one educator. Sydney-based educator Nick Stephens told Triple J: "Anyone that works as a quality service has that question ... how was a male allowed one-on-one with a child for an extended period? "Ratios need to change. The more adults you have in a room working with children, the less likely something like this can happen." An open-plan environment increases visibility. Children are very small, so the furniture and walls should be smaller. It might not smell great, but nappy changes can be done in the public space. Toilets (for children, not staff), don't need doors, or frankly even walls. Big glass windows that let you see inside and out are great. Can children (and educators) hide under forts or tunnels, or behind playground equipment? There are some practicalities that are hard to address. Babies will probably need a quiet and dark room to sleep (and they need their sleep). You cannot have two teachers leave seven children to put one baby down. Perhaps we can consider CCTV in areas like this, or even the entire premises. There are issues around the privacy of children and staff, but when weighing it against child safety, I think it is worth discussing. Many parents feel guilty enough for leaving their children in care, but in a modern world, it is a necessary sacrifice to keep a roof over their heads. Research also shows disadvantaged children benefit from being in high-quality childcare (but poor quality care leads to deficits in language and cognitive function). I encourage parents to ask questions like: How often are strangers looking after my baby? Are there any places for a predator to, literally, hide? But if you don't like the answer, there may not be much you can do. Finding another centre can actually be impossible in some areas, and good ones often have long waitlists. Nannies, au pairs and babysitters are expensive and subject to far less supervision or scrutiny than educators in a centre. READ MORE: The sickening thing is that predators will find a way to abuse children, including in front of others. The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre reports that one in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused, yet most cases do not occur in educational settings. Perpetrators are fathers, step-fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, cousins and friends of the family. Those calling for male educators to be banned should perhaps also consider banning parents, especially fathers, from caring for their own children. If a predator cannot work in a childcare centre, they will find another way. UNSW research from 2023 found one in six Australian men have sexual feelings towards children, and one in 10 have offended. Banning phones might prevent an abuser from recording and sharing their abuse, but it will not stop them from doing it. Protecting your child can feel almost impossible right now; and that is because if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to protect them. This was originally published on Substack.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Man's ‘haunting' final gesture before grandson killed him
A man's final plea for help before the violent assault from his own grandson that killed him has been captured on camera. The moments leading up to the brutal attack which killed John Brown, 81, were recorded by at home CCTV cameras installed to protect against the very person who assaulted him. His grandson, Jakob Walpole, 33, seriously injured the elderly man at his home in Bulkington, Warwickshire on November 23, 2024. After a three week trial, the jury found Walpole was guilty of manslaughter, and of assaulting two other victims at a nearby working men's club, but was acquitted of murder. Mr Brown was a frail man, and had been diagnosed with dementia not long before the attack. Michael Duck KC, a prosecutor for the case, told the Warwick Crown Court that the grandfather was 'plainly a vulnerable individual', The Mirror reported. His family were concerned about his well-being. The court was told that relatives had been worried about Walpole's 'deteriorating' behaviour since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Mr Brown's daughter installed security cameras in his St James Gardens home. John Brown, 81, died from head injuries after his grandson attacked him. Credit: Supplied Walpole had been heavily drinking on the day of the attack, having purchased a bottle of vodka that morning. He attacked Mr Brown and inflicted fatal head injuries, which caused his death six days later. Walpole then continued his spree of violent assaults at the nearby Bulkington Working Men's Club, where he attacked two further victims. The club's CCTV footage captured him smashing a glass over the back of another customer's head before he also assaulted a bar worker. After these physical assaults, Walpole was removed from the club. During the trial, jurors were presented CCTV footage from Mr Brown's home. Jurors were asked to assess whether Walpole had intended to cause serious harm to Mr Brown, and were shown CCTV footage of him making a 'haunting' gesture towards the camera for help prior to the attack. Mr Duck told the jury that they could consider that the action was 'a gesture of desire for assistance'. After the case was finalised, Natalie Kelly of the Crown Prosecution Service said Walpole 'carried out a senseless and brutal attack on his own grandfather who had tried to help him'. 'He showed no concern or remorse following the attack. Rather than call for help, he callously left his vulnerable and elderly grandfather severely injured and went to a local pub where he assaulted two further elderly victims,' she said. Mr Brown was known in his community for his expertise in vintage cars, having run a successful car repair business. Ms Kelly said Walpole had taken advantage of Mr Brown's kindness. 'While this conviction ensures Walpole is held accountable for his actions, the family have been left with a deep and lasting pain that no justice can erase,' she said. Walpole will be sentenced next Monday.
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Jakob Walpole: Grandfather made ‘haunting' gesture before his own grandson killed him
A man's final plea for help before the violent assault from his own grandson that killed him has been captured on camera. The moments leading up to the brutal attack which killed John Brown, 81, were recorded by at home CCTV cameras installed to protect against the very person who assaulted him. His grandson, Jakob Walpole, 33, seriously injured the elderly man at his home in Bulkington, Warwickshire on November 23, 2024. After a three week trial, the jury found Walpole was guilty of manslaughter, and of assaulting two other victims at a nearby working men's club, but was acquitted of murder. Mr Brown was a frail man, and had been diagnosed with dementia not long before the attack. Michael Duck KC, a prosecutor for the case, told the Warwick Crown Court that the grandfather was 'plainly a vulnerable individual', The Mirror reported. His family were concerned about his well-being. The court was told that relatives had been worried about Walpole's 'deteriorating' behaviour since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Mr Brown's daughter installed security cameras in his St James Gardens home. Walpole had been heavily drinking on the day of the attack, having purchased a bottle of vodka that morning. He attacked Mr Brown and inflicted fatal head injuries, which caused his death six days later. Walpole then continued his spree of violent assaults at the nearby Bulkington Working Men's Club, where he attacked two further victims. The club's CCTV footage captured him smashing a glass over the back of another customer's head before he also assaulted a bar worker. After these physical assaults, Walpole was removed from the club. During the trial, jurors were presented CCTV footage from Mr Brown's home. Jurors were asked to assess whether Walpole had intended to cause serious harm to Mr Brown, and were shown CCTV footage of him making a 'haunting' gesture towards the camera for help prior to the attack. Mr Duck told the jury that they could consider that the action was 'a gesture of desire for assistance'. After the case was finalised, Natalie Kelly of the Crown Prosecution Service said Walpole 'carried out a senseless and brutal attack on his own grandfather who had tried to help him'. 'He showed no concern or remorse following the attack. Rather than call for help, he callously left his vulnerable and elderly grandfather severely injured and went to a local pub where he assaulted two further elderly victims,' she said. Mr Brown was known in his community for his expertise in vintage cars, having run a successful car repair business. Ms Kelly said Walpole had taken advantage of Mr Brown's kindness. 'While this conviction ensures Walpole is held accountable for his actions, the family have been left with a deep and lasting pain that no justice can erase,' she said. Walpole will be sentenced next Monday.
