Childcare workers should be able to have their clearances pulled based on unproven allegations, a snap review has found.
The sweeping review of Victoria’s childcare sector, led by former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill and veteran public servant Pamela White, was released on Wednesday 20 August.
Chief among its 22 recommendations was for working with children checks to be overhauled so they can be suspended or refused when there are “credible allegations or patterns of behaviour” with children.
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”.
Limitations on the commission’s ability to share information on unsubstantiated allegations must also be removed, the review said.
“The review heard repeatedly about the ‘breadcrumbs’ that can be missed by the failure to piece information together,” the 103-page document reads.
The changes to the schemes should be implemented in concert with harsher penalties to match the seriousness of breaches, as well as more frequent unannounced compliance visits.
“No matter how hard we try to keep predators out, some will get through,” the review said.
“The system needs to be able to spot them and act quickly.”
However, the review stopped short of calling for mandatory CCTV in all childcare state facilities and instead recommended a national trial.
A national review should also be set up to consider introducing a “four eyes” rule of two adults visible to each other while with children and a federal funding program to improve sight lines in centres.
A parent told the review families’ distress stemmed from childcare being a necessity rather than a lifestyle choice.
“We live in a society and an economy now where it is very rare for a household to stay afloat on one income,” they said.
The review found the sector has undergone rapid growth over the past decade without a “coherent plan”.
Long day care services in Victoria have grown from 1280 to 2049 since 2015, with 94 per cent of new centres for-profit providers.
At the same time, the sector is facing significant workforce challenges from shortages, casualisation and high turnover rates.
The review called for a national Early Childhood Reform Commission to be established to support a “fundamental reset” of the sector.
“Removing bad actors from the system cannot wait for this longer-term work to occur,” the 103-page document read.
“There is no silver bullet.”
The Victorian government will release its formal response later on Wednesday but previously committed to enact all recommendations.
Many of the recommendations are directed at the federal government, with the state urged to share the review with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions as soon as possible.
Federal, state and territory education ministers are due to meet on Friday.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
