Latest news with #JoshuaDaleBrown
The Advertiser
7 hours 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
8 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
The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Lost trust prompts swift overhaul for childcare checks
Childcare workers will no longer be able to retain their clearance when authorities move to cancel it after a snap review laid out gaps exploited by predators. The six-week review of Victoria's childcare sector was triggered by Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged over the alleged sexual abuse of eight children at a centre in Point Cook. Brown held a working with children check and worked at 24 childcare sites across the city before his arrest in May. Parents' trust in the system has been "horribly broken" since police lifted the lid on the alleged abuse in early-July, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "To every family who has been hurt by these most horrific of allegations, I am truly sorry," she told reporters after the review's release on Wednesday. The rapid review made 22 recommendations, including a major overhaul of the state's working with children check regime. 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. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said some workers were currently entitled to retain their check for 28 days when appealing the decision. "It doesn't happen in all situations but in some it does," she said. People under investigation for serious offences can still hold a permit to work with children in Victoria. The rapid review suggested checks be suspended or refused when there are "credible allegations or patterns of behaviour" with children. The trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in too many places, with "breadcrumbs" and "red flags" missed. A 2022 Victorian ombudsman report exposed serious flaws in the scheme after former Melbourne City Mission worker Alexander Jones was convicted of sexually assaulting a child in 2018. Ms Allan deflected responsibility over the state government's failure to act on that report, pointing out she wasn't premier at the time. "I wasn't involved in those previous decisions," she said. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will 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. "No matter how hard we try to keep predators out, some will get through," said the review, led by former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill and veteran public servant Pamela White. The review, however, stopped short of calling for mandatory CCTV in all childcare state facilities, suggesting a national trial instead. It also didn't recommend Victoria go it alone on staff to child ratios, calling for a national review to consider introducing a "four eyes" rule of two adults visible to each other. All recommendations were accepted by the state government, with Ms Allan committing to roll out the reforms within the next 12 months and a $42 million sector funding boost. But many were directed squarely at the federal government as part of national reforms with states and territories. The sector has undergone rapid growth over the past decade without a "coherent plan" and removing "bad actors" cannot wait for longer-term work, the review said. Victoria was urged to share the review with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions ahead of education ministers meeting on Friday. Attorneys-general have already agreed people banned from holding a working with children check in one jurisdiction will be banned in all under reforms to be in place by the end of 2025. OTHER KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RAPID REVIEW: * Create a national early childhood reform commission * Accelerate a national early childhood worker register * Establish a process for high-quality providers to take over a cancelled service * Trial CCTV in early childhood education and care settings across the nation * Improve lines of sight in centres through a federally funded program 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Childcare workers will no longer be able to retain their clearance when authorities move to cancel it after a snap review laid out gaps exploited by predators. The six-week review of Victoria's childcare sector was triggered by Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged over the alleged sexual abuse of eight children at a centre in Point Cook. Brown held a working with children check and worked at 24 childcare sites across the city before his arrest in May. Parents' trust in the system has been "horribly broken" since police lifted the lid on the alleged abuse in early-July, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "To every family who has been hurt by these most horrific of allegations, I am truly sorry," she told reporters after the review's release on Wednesday. The rapid review made 22 recommendations, including a major overhaul of the state's working with children check regime. 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. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said some workers were currently entitled to retain their check for 28 days when appealing the decision. "It doesn't happen in all situations but in some it does," she said. People under investigation for serious offences can still hold a permit to work with children in Victoria. The rapid review suggested checks be suspended or refused when there are "credible allegations or patterns of behaviour" with children. The trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in too many places, with "breadcrumbs" and "red flags" missed. A 2022 Victorian ombudsman report exposed serious flaws in the scheme after former Melbourne City Mission worker Alexander Jones was convicted of sexually assaulting a child in 2018. Ms Allan deflected responsibility over the state government's failure to act on that report, pointing out she wasn't premier at the time. "I wasn't involved in those previous decisions," she said. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will 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. "No matter how hard we try to keep predators out, some will get through," said the review, led by former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill and veteran public servant Pamela White. The review, however, stopped short of calling for mandatory CCTV in all childcare state facilities, suggesting a national trial instead. It also didn't recommend Victoria go it alone on staff to child ratios, calling for a national review to consider introducing a "four eyes" rule of two adults visible to each other. All recommendations were accepted by the state government, with Ms Allan committing to roll out the reforms within the next 12 months and a $42 million sector funding boost. But many were directed squarely at the federal government as part of national reforms with states and territories. The sector has undergone rapid growth over the past decade without a "coherent plan" and removing "bad actors" cannot wait for longer-term work, the review said. Victoria was urged to share the review with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions ahead of education ministers meeting on Friday. Attorneys-general have already agreed people banned from holding a working with children check in one jurisdiction will be banned in all under reforms to be in place by the end of 2025. OTHER KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RAPID REVIEW: * Create a national early childhood reform commission * Accelerate a national early childhood worker register * Establish a process for high-quality providers to take over a cancelled service * Trial CCTV in early childhood education and care settings across the nation * Improve lines of sight in centres through a federally funded program 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Childcare workers will no longer be able to retain their clearance when authorities move to cancel it after a snap review laid out gaps exploited by predators. The six-week review of Victoria's childcare sector was triggered by Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged over the alleged sexual abuse of eight children at a centre in Point Cook. Brown held a working with children check and worked at 24 childcare sites across the city before his arrest in May. Parents' trust in the system has been "horribly broken" since police lifted the lid on the alleged abuse in early-July, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "To every family who has been hurt by these most horrific of allegations, I am truly sorry," she told reporters after the review's release on Wednesday. The rapid review made 22 recommendations, including a major overhaul of the state's working with children check regime. 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. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said some workers were currently entitled to retain their check for 28 days when appealing the decision. "It doesn't happen in all situations but in some it does," she said. People under investigation for serious offences can still hold a permit to work with children in Victoria. The rapid review suggested checks be suspended or refused when there are "credible allegations or patterns of behaviour" with children. The trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in too many places, with "breadcrumbs" and "red flags" missed. A 2022 Victorian ombudsman report exposed serious flaws in the scheme after former Melbourne City Mission worker Alexander Jones was convicted of sexually assaulting a child in 2018. Ms Allan deflected responsibility over the state government's failure to act on that report, pointing out she wasn't premier at the time. "I wasn't involved in those previous decisions," she said. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will 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. "No matter how hard we try to keep predators out, some will get through," said the review, led by former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill and veteran public servant Pamela White. The review, however, stopped short of calling for mandatory CCTV in all childcare state facilities, suggesting a national trial instead. It also didn't recommend Victoria go it alone on staff to child ratios, calling for a national review to consider introducing a "four eyes" rule of two adults visible to each other. All recommendations were accepted by the state government, with Ms Allan committing to roll out the reforms within the next 12 months and a $42 million sector funding boost. But many were directed squarely at the federal government as part of national reforms with states and territories. The sector has undergone rapid growth over the past decade without a "coherent plan" and removing "bad actors" cannot wait for longer-term work, the review said. Victoria was urged to share the review with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions ahead of education ministers meeting on Friday. Attorneys-general have already agreed people banned from holding a working with children check in one jurisdiction will be banned in all under reforms to be in place by the end of 2025. OTHER KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RAPID REVIEW: * Create a national early childhood reform commission * Accelerate a national early childhood worker register * Establish a process for high-quality providers to take over a cancelled service * Trial CCTV in early childhood education and care settings across the nation * Improve lines of sight in centres through a federally funded program 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Childcare workers will no longer be able to retain their clearance when authorities move to cancel it after a snap review laid out gaps exploited by predators. The six-week review of Victoria's childcare sector was triggered by Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown being charged over the alleged sexual abuse of eight children at a centre in Point Cook. Brown held a working with children check and worked at 24 childcare sites across the city before his arrest in May. Parents' trust in the system has been "horribly broken" since police lifted the lid on the alleged abuse in early-July, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "To every family who has been hurt by these most horrific of allegations, I am truly sorry," she told reporters after the review's release on Wednesday. The rapid review made 22 recommendations, including a major overhaul of the state's working with children check regime. 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. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said some workers were currently entitled to retain their check for 28 days when appealing the decision. "It doesn't happen in all situations but in some it does," she said. People under investigation for serious offences can still hold a permit to work with children in Victoria. The rapid review suggested checks be suspended or refused when there are "credible allegations or patterns of behaviour" with children. The trail of information that can identify a predator's behaviour sits in too many places, with "breadcrumbs" and "red flags" missed. A 2022 Victorian ombudsman report exposed serious flaws in the scheme after former Melbourne City Mission worker Alexander Jones was convicted of sexually assaulting a child in 2018. Ms Allan deflected responsibility over the state government's failure to act on that report, pointing out she wasn't premier at the time. "I wasn't involved in those previous decisions," she said. Victoria's working with children check regime, along with the reportable conduct scheme, will 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. "No matter how hard we try to keep predators out, some will get through," said the review, led by former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill and veteran public servant Pamela White. The review, however, stopped short of calling for mandatory CCTV in all childcare state facilities, suggesting a national trial instead. It also didn't recommend Victoria go it alone on staff to child ratios, calling for a national review to consider introducing a "four eyes" rule of two adults visible to each other. All recommendations were accepted by the state government, with Ms Allan committing to roll out the reforms within the next 12 months and a $42 million sector funding boost. But many were directed squarely at the federal government as part of national reforms with states and territories. The sector has undergone rapid growth over the past decade without a "coherent plan" and removing "bad actors" cannot wait for longer-term work, the review said. Victoria was urged to share the review with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions ahead of education ministers meeting on Friday. Attorneys-general have already agreed people banned from holding a working with children check in one jurisdiction will be banned in all under reforms to be in place by the end of 2025. OTHER KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RAPID REVIEW: * Create a national early childhood reform commission * Accelerate a national early childhood worker register * Establish a process for high-quality providers to take over a cancelled service * Trial CCTV in early childhood education and care settings across the nation * Improve lines of sight in centres through a federally funded program 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
AU Financial Review
20 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
National abuse register and more staff urged in childcare crackdown
The Commonwealth is being urged to lift staff-to-child ratios in early learning centres, fund mandatory child-safety training for workers and establish a national register to prevent abuse following a raft of sexual and physical abuse allegations against childcare workers. The Victorian government ordered an urgent review into the childcare sector after Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was charged with more than 70 sex offences against babies and toddlers, including rape.
Perth Now
21 hours ago
- Perth Now
How Australia's childcare safety crisis unfolded
AUSTRALIA'S CHILDCARE SAFETY CRISIS: * May 12: Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown charged with more than 70 sex offences against eight alleged victims aged under two at a centre at Point Cook, in Melbourne's southwest, between April 2022 and January 2023 * May 18: The Queensland government launches a Commission of Inquiry into the state's child safety system * June 25: The NSW government commits to set up a stand-alone early childhood regulator, increase fines and trial CCTV cameras when safety concerns arise * July 1: Victorian police reveal Brown worked at 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025 and say they are investigating allegations at an Essendon centre. Health authorities advise 1200 children should be tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution * July 2: The Victorian government orders an urgent review into child safety, a ban on personal mobile phones by September 26 and a state register of childcare workers * July 3: Parents linked to the impacted centres express feeling shocked and worried, and report long wait times to access support and health information from a Victorian hotline * July 4: A former royal commissioner rebukes governments for dragging their feet on creating a national regime for working with children checks after federal Education Minister Jason conceded the reforms have taken "too bloody long". * July 8: G8 Education, which runs the facility where Brown was accused of abusing children, vows to put CCTV cameras into more than 400 centres * July 9: Affinity Education Group announces it will fast-track installing CCTV in over 250 of its facilities and confirms it reported a NSW employee to police after sexual abuse allegations were raised * July 10: A 21-year-old worker is charged with indecent treatment of a four-year-old in his care at Milestones Early Learning Tingalpa in Brisbane * July 13: G8 Education reveals it investigated Brown twice while he was employed at the company. Both incidents were substantiated but his working with children check was not revoked * July 15: Investigations uncover three more childcare centres where Brown worked and update dates for others. Another 800 children are recommended to undergo testing * July 16: G8 Education confirms Brown also worked one shift at World of Learning Point Cook, bringing the total number of centres to 24 * July 17: Nido Early School confirms Brown was sacked over "unsatisfactory attention" given to an internal incident report related to one child's behaviour towards another child * July 22: Brown's court case delayed to February 10 to allow detectives more time to gather evidence * July 23: The Albanese government introduces legislation to cut childcare subsidy funding for centres repeatedly failing safety requirements * July 31: NSW Police reveal David William James, an out-of-school care worker secretly moonlighting in the job while serving as a police officer, allegedly produced child abuse material of 10 children aged under six * August 13: The Victorian government moves to cancel an early educator's working with children check after Goodstart reveals he was sacked over substantiated grooming allegations in 2020 * August 15: All states and territories agree to create a system, by the end of 2025, where people banned from holding a working with children check in one jurisdiction will be banned in all * August 20: Victoria's rapid child safety review is released with 22 recommendations for the state and federal governments 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
