Australia’s children’s commissioner Anne Hollonds has described recent allegations of misconduct by childcare workers as “just the tip of the iceberg.” This statement follows an ABC investigation revealing that a Victorian childcare worker retained his Working with Children Check despite being dismissed for grooming toddlers and subsequently banned from the industry four years later.
The investigation has prompted Premier Jacinta Allan to vow that authorities would revoke the man’s permit. However, as of Thursday morning, the permit remained valid. The revocation process commenced on Tuesday night when the childcare regulator referred the case to the Working with Children Check unit, utilizing newly expanded powers to cancel such permits.
Systemic Issues in Childcare Regulation
The case highlights ongoing issues within the childcare sector, which has faced a series of allegations concerning the abuse of children by workers. This crisis has not only put the industry under scrutiny but also raised questions about the effectiveness of regulatory bodies tasked with safeguarding children.
“It is a shock to hear how weak [regulation] is in a sector that is meant to be caring for the youngest and most vulnerable citizens in this country,” Ms. Hollonds stated. “We have really let them down … this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is a massive sector and we don’t know what’s out there that we haven’t heard about yet.”
Complex Regulatory Framework
The allegations against the childcare worker at the center of the ABC’s investigation first emerged in 2020. He was accused of sexual misconduct at a Goodstart center in the Geelong region. An internal investigation substantiated claims that he engaged in inappropriate behavior, such as kissing toddlers and attempting to arrange unsanctioned meetings outside the center.
Despite being deemed “an unacceptable risk to children” by Goodstart, the worker continued in the childcare sector until a prohibition order was issued four years later. His Working with Children Check was never revoked, allowing him to potentially interact with children in other settings.
Ms. Hollonds criticized the fragmented regulatory system, describing it as “too complicated” with multiple “potential points of failure.” She highlighted the disjointed nature of the system, where different agencies handle reportable conduct, Working with Children Checks, and regulatory oversight separately.
“There’s one place where you go for your reportable conduct, there’s another place you go to for your Working with Children Check and then there’s the regulator,” she explained. “[It’s] very, very clear that there are too many different agencies involved in this and they’re passing things on from one to the other — or not, as the case may be. It doesn’t sound like a system that’s very robust.”
Calls for Reform and Accountability
Child advocate Hetty Johnston echoed these concerns, stating that the current system is “just not working.” She emphasized the need for better integration and communication between agencies to prevent predators from exploiting regulatory gaps.
Meanwhile, the Victorian state government faced intense scrutiny in parliament over how the former Goodstart worker retained his Working with Children Check for five years post-dismissal. Premier Jacinta Allan and Government Services Minister Natalie Hutchins were questioned but provided limited explanations.
Opposition education spokeswoman Jess Wilson called for decisive action, urging the government to rescind the individual’s Working with Children Check and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. “The government must act, rescind that individual’s Working with Children Check, but most importantly, make sure this never happens again and actually take the actions to keep children safe in this state,” she said.
Future Steps and Reforms
The government’s rapid review of the childcare sector, led by former South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, is expected to be delivered this Friday. The recommendations will be discussed in the upcoming cabinet meeting on Monday, with an emphasis on improving cooperation and information sharing among authorities.
Premier Allan acknowledged the need for significant reforms across the sector, both in Victoria and nationwide. “It is clear that one of the issues with the early childhood and childcare system, not just across Victoria but across the nation, across the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, is that information sharing between regulators, which is why it is part of the rapid review,” she told parliament.
The outcomes of this review and subsequent government actions will be closely watched, as stakeholders demand a more robust system to protect children and restore public confidence in the childcare industry.
