Childcare safety: Victoria calls for national reform to put child wellbeing over profits

Parents’ advocates have welcomed today’s announcement from the Victorian Government as a bold step in putting children first. Strengthened Working With Children Checks and other measures follow a rapid review into child safety, commissioned after high-profile allegations of abuse. The review made 22 recommendations, all of which the government has accepted.

The Parenthood CEO, Georgie Dent, said Victoria is showing real leadership and ambition in addressing both immediate and long-term challenges.

“Victoria is leading the way. Parents will welcome the actions committed this year, and, crucially, welcome the conversation this review drives about a long-term, national solution that puts children first,” Ms Dent said.

“Children’s safety and wellbeing must always be the guiding principle in early childhood education and care. The review makes it crystal clear: safety comes before educator privacy, and it certainly comes before profit.”

Currently, around three-quarters of Australia’s early childhood education and care sector is run for profit, funded through a mix of fees and federal subsidies.

“We have a federally-funded system that, in some cases, incentivises profit over children’s best interests. That is unacceptable,” Ms Dent said.

“This is a moment for ambition and leadership. We need a system that puts children’s safety and wellbeing at the centre - across the nation, not just state by state. A dedicated National Early Childhood Reform Commission would provide the accountability and long-term focus the sector urgently needs.”

State, territory, and federal education ministers will meet in Sydney on Friday to discuss coordinated national steps on child safety.