Latest news with #WorkingwithChildrenCheck
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
‘Distressing' situation: 800 children to be tested for infectious disease linked to alleged abuser at childcare centres; held working permit despite being reported
File image Australian authorities have advised infectious disease testing for around 800 children across four childcare centres where a man, now facing multiple charges including child rape, had been employed. Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was arrested in May and is currently facing 70 charges. Police allege that he abused eight children, aged between five months and two years, between April 2022 and January 2023, according to the BBC. Brown is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court in September. 'We acknowledge how distressing this is for all families involved and everything possible is being done to provide the vital support now required,' a notice on the Victorian government website stated. This follows an earlier advisory for around 1,200 children across 20 childcare centres to undergo testing as a precautionary measure. On Tuesday, police identified four additional childcare centres where Brown had worked between January 2017 and May 2025. One previously listed centre was later removed after it was confirmed he had not worked there. Authorities have assessed the potential risk of exposure to infectious diseases as 'considered low,' and added that 'testing results to date reaffirms this assessment.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like SNS에서 화제인 그 팔찌, 예쁜데 의미까지... 굿네이버스 더 알아보기 Undo It remains unconfirmed whether Brown tested positive for any sexually transmitted infections. However, authorities said that due to the nature of the alleged offences, some children may still need to undergo screening. At the time of his arrest, Brown held a valid Working with Children Check, a mandatory clearance for working in childcare, and was actively employed as a childcare worker, officials confirmed. The case has triggered widespread outrage among parents, not only over the disturbing allegations but also over what many view as a systemic failure in the government's childcare screening process, according to the BBC. Brown had reportedly retained his clearance despite being flagged to state authorities two years ago for concerning behaviour at the same childcare centre where the abuse allegedly occurred. Those earlier reports were not related to sexual misconduct, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. G8 Education, the childcare operator that employed Brown, has announced plans to fast-track the installation of security cameras across its network of more than 400 centres. The company also said it would launch an independent review into the allegations once police investigations and court proceedings are complete.
7NEWS
03-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Outrage as Working with Children Check only takes 30 minutes and requires a simple online form
It has been revealed that the Working with Children Check (WWCC) is only a 30-minute online form for anyone without a criminal record. A major spotlight has this week been put on child safety tools after a man was charged with 70 offences at a Melbourne childcare centre. Childcare worker Joshua Brown, 26, has been charged in relation to eight victims who attended a Point Cook childcare centre between April 2022 and January 2023. A Working with Children Check usually handles state-by-state but involves a national police check and a review of reportable workplace misconduct. Previously, the check has been a key safety tool used to ensure kids are being kept safe. The Herald Sun compared the online form with Victoria's Responsible Service of Alcohol course, which requires up to 10 hours of training in order to become certified. A number of childhood sexual abuse advocates, including Australian Childhood Foundation survivor Emma Hakansson, 25, said it was 'laughable' that governments considered the current checks acceptable. 'The adult who sexually abused me also had a WWCC,' she said in a report in the publication. 'The WWCC could be a tool to arm safe adults with training to keep children safe, and it's absurd we trust adults with children without any training, while training is required to serve alcohol, even to handle food.' On Friday, journalists Luke Bona and Susie O'Brien joined Nat Barr on Sunrise to discuss the relative ease in meeting the Working with Children Check requirement. Both called for tougher regulations. 'The story that has sparked all this is the most horrific thing,' Bona said. 'Remember, everybody is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but the spotlight is certainly on the safety and welfare of our children. 'The safety of our children is the most important thing we can offer, and we must provide. 'So, I take my hat off to Hetty Johnson from Bravehearts who's going to form her own course. 'But it's got to be mandatory, because the message is, we've got to keep kids safe at all costs.' This week, journalist Susie O'Brien reported that educators facing serious allegations can still work in childcare centres for up to two years due to regulatory issues. They are often allowed to work during the investigation. 'The comparison between the RSA and the Working with Children Check is really interesting, because you can be fined $10,000 for serving someone drunk,' O'Brien began. 'You probably lose your job, find it hard to get another job. 'But you can be a childcare worker who molests a toddler. 'Yes, you will lose your job, but you can continue working in other centres for up to two years, while they and decide if you're guilty or not, particularly in this state, but other states as well. 'It can take up to two years for a predator to be removed from childcare centres, and that is a massive problem.'
West Australian
02-07-2025
- West Australian
Port Kennedy man fined over lying on working with children's check application
A Port Kennedy man has been fined for lying on a working with children check application, claiming to be employed by a sporting organisation. The 42-year-old was fined $800 and given a spent conviction after pleading guilty to knowingly providing false and misleading information. The man submitted an application in September 2023 while unemployed, but stated he was working in child-related work as a Willetton Basketball Association coach. He falsely signed a part of the application on behalf of his employer, but had never been offered a job by the Association. The breach was uncovered after an investigation by Communities' working with children screening unit. Only applicants engaged in child-related work are eligible to apply for the mandatory clearance. Communities regulation and quality executive director Angelo Barbaro said the Working with Children Check was an important strategy in reducing risk of harm to children. 'Providing false information in connection with a Working with Children Check, be it to the employer or the Department, will be taken extremely seriously and prosecution action is taken where warranted,' he said. 'This Court action serves as a reminder to anyone who is engaged in child-related work to ensure they hold a valid Working with Children Card, and organisations must ensure due diligence when engaging a person in child-related work.'
Perth Now
02-07-2025
- Perth Now
‘Angry': Minister's link to childcare charges
Education Minister Jason Clare has revealed a close friend of his has been impacted by Tuesday's revelation of the alleged sexual abuse of children at Victorian childcare centres by a worker. 'I know that they're angry because one of those parents is a friend of mine and her two little girls are directly affected by this,' Mr Clare said on Wednesday. 'And I won't tell you what she told me last night because you can't repeat it on television, but she's right to be mad. 'I'm mad. I think anyone who works in the early education system, and there's hundreds of thousands of fantastic people who do, would be angry today as well. 'And my friend is mad because of all of the stress and the trauma and the crap that she and her girls are going to have to go through in the weeks ahead.' Yesterday, Victorian Police revealed they had charged the 26-year-old childcare worker Joshua Brown with 70 charges after he allegedly abused eight children at a Point Cook childcare centre in Melbourne. Education Minister Jason Clare has promised urgent reform to the child safety following Tuesday's revelation of alleged abuse at Victorian childcare centres. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Police allege the children were aged between five months and two years. A widespread investigation has now been launched, with Victoria's chief health officer saying 1200 children have been recommended to undergo infectious diseases testing. Mr Clare said the problem of predators in childcare settings was 'serious' and required 'serious action'. 'It's one of the reasons why I put this on the top of the agenda when education ministers met last week,' he said. 'Let me be clear – when education ministers met to discuss child safety last week, we didn't discuss this case, but we discussed – what are the next steps that we need to take as a nation to make sure that our kids are safe in early education and care?' The government has already banned personal mobile phones in centres and changed rules around mandatory reporting from seven days to 24 hours following complaints about sexual or physical abuse. The police allege childcare worker Joshua Brown sexually abused multiple children. Picture Supplied. Credit: Supplied Mr Clare promised further reforms, including cutting off funding for centres that fail to meet minimum standards. He also flagged changes to background checks for workers. 'It's taken too long to do the work necessary to make sure that our Working with Children Check system is up to scratch,' he said. 'I've spoken a number of times with the Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland, the new Attorney-General, and I think I can safely speak on her behalf – she agrees, and is determined to take the action necessary here to make sure that our Working with Children Checks across the nation are up to scratch. 'That'll be something that will be discussed by attorneys-general when they meet next month.' He cautioned that a working with children check was not a 'silver bullet'. 'In too many examples, a perpetrator is eventually caught and arrested and sentenced, there's somebody that got a Working with Children Check because they had no prior criminal record,' he said. 'And so it's only one of the things that we need to focus on here if we're serious about making sure that we keep our kids safe.' More to come .
