A national system to track childcare worker misconduct is being championed as a crucial measure to ensure the safety of children in Australia. This initiative is being strongly advocated by Goodstart Early Learning, one of the country’s largest early education providers, which argues that every childcare worker across all states should be subjected to mandatory reporting. This proposal comes amid ongoing disagreements among states and territories regarding the implementation of mobile phone bans in childcare centers.
The critical meeting of education ministers, set to take place on Friday, aims to decide on new safety measures, including safety training, the installation of CCTV, and the establishment of a database to monitor worker movements. This development follows several allegations of child abuse in early education settings, prompting state and federal governments to urgently update regulations and enhance safety protocols in childcare facilities.
National Register and Mobile Phone Bans on the Agenda
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare will convene with his counterparts to discuss the potential agreement on a national register of childcare workers. This move is part of a broader effort to create a nationally consistent “working with children” check scheme, as agreed upon by attorneys general last week.
Dr. Ros Baxter, CEO of Goodstart Early Learning, emphasized the importance of a national system to log worker misconduct. “We need a national reportable conduct scheme. Five states have these, each operating with different rules. Every person in every state should be subject to mandatory reporting rules,” she stated in an interview with Guardian Australia.
South Australia is expected to advocate strongly for a nationwide ban on personal mobile phones in childcare centers. Both South Australia and Victoria have already begun implementing such bans, with a national requirement set to take effect from September 1. Western Australia has also announced plans to follow suit.
State Initiatives and Concerns
South Australia’s Early Education Minister, Blair Boyer, is slated to address the meeting, highlighting how the state plans to monitor and ensure compliance with the mobile phone ban. “South Australia was also the first jurisdiction with Victoria to implement a personal device ban in early learning settings,” Boyer remarked to Guardian Australia. “I’m looking forward to discussing with my state and territory colleagues about how we have rolled this out to ensure all jurisdictions are in line with each other.”
However, not all states are in agreement. Queensland has expressed hesitancy about implementing the mobile phone ban, citing concerns over potential unintended consequences for certain centers. Meanwhile, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia have committed millions in new funding to enhance compliance measures.
Challenges and Opposition
Some major childcare providers have shown reluctance to fully endorse the expansion of CCTV usage, raising issues regarding the costs of installation and maintenance, as well as the security and potential misuse of camera footage. Western Australia’s Early Childhood Minister, Sabine Winton, is advocating for immediate actions, including mandatory safety training, to address these concerns.
“I will also be placing strong focus on advocating for building the capacity of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority and state-based regulators,” Winton asserted. “While all measures to increase child safety should be explored, my focus is on tangible actions that can be implemented now.”
National Register and Future Steps
New South Wales and Queensland are prioritizing the establishment of a national register of childcare workers. Queensland’s Education Minister, John-Paul Langbroek, emphasized the critical nature of such a register for ensuring child safety, pledging to “continue calling for the urgent introduction of a national early childhood educator register at this week’s education ministers meeting.”
New South Wales is also pushing for the register, with Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning, Courtney Houssos, stating that the state is prepared to act independently if necessary. “While NSW is prepared to act alone if necessary to implement nation-leading reforms that will put children’s safety and wellbeing first, we are also working with other states and the commonwealth to reform childcare regulation at a national level,” Houssos explained.
Dr. Baxter of Goodstart Early Learning also highlighted the need for extending federal incentive payments to childcare workers beyond the current December 2026 cut-off to attract and retain high-quality staff. “Ultimately, the best protection for children remains a stable, well-trained workforce and a strong safeguarding culture which welcomes and encourages reporting where any concerns arise,” she concluded.
