State's childcare centres ‘on notice'
Acting Education and Early Learning Minister Courtney Houssos has announced a list of changes coming for the sector, including the launch of an independent regulator agency and providing parents with 'increased information' and 'transparency for the community'.
Former deputy NSW Ombudsman Chris Wheeler was commissioned to conduct an independent review into the sector in February after a rise in safety breaches in the sector last year.
A list of proposed reforms was released in June.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Ms Houssos welcomed feedback for its reforms into the childhood sector. The NSW government will introduce a trial of CCTV cameras inside childcare centres. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
'We will be increasing the fines on individual centres,' she said.
'And we will be, as the Wheeler Review recommended, establishing a trial of CCTV cameras.'
Ms Houssos said while there were many early 'fantastic' learning centres across the state, the underperforming centres had been put on notice.
'The time for the days are pretending to improve while nothing is done are over,' she said.
'We are really clear that we will be cracking down on those centres who are not delivering for those safe and quality environments for parents and for children.
'We take this responsibility incredibly seriously, that's why we have such a comprehensive program of reform.' Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said poorly performing early childcare centres were 'on notice'. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
However, in response to the reforms, early educator Rebecca Saville argued the changes were a 'Band-Aid fix',
In a letter penned to the federal Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh, Ms Saville said the sector didn't need announcements, but rather an 'overhaul' of 'how the sector is funded, staffed, regulated, and respected'.
'I was prompted to write the letter because I was hearing of other educators' concerns within the sector and how the new safety measures don't address the issues at heart and are a Band-Aid fix,' she said per The Daily Telegraph. Ms Houssos said the government was 'hamstrung' getting the reforms through. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
Ms Houssos told media on Wednesday the government was working with ministers from across the country on the reforms, which she hopes would be 'pursued at a national level'.
'We have a sense of urgency for the reforms that we're pursuing,' she said.
'And we are going to get these changes under way.'
'We are hamstrung by the national law, but this is law that does pass through each of the individual parliaments,' she added.
'I want to be clear under performing centres that the time of pretending to improve while nothing is done are over.'
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