‘Angry': Minister's link to childcare charges
'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 .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Appease you': Slain mum's family bombshell
The family of a woman killed by her violent partner in an act of gender-based violence has dropped a bombshell on a special forum hosted by A Current Affair - claiming prosecutors only brought them along to 'appease' them. Lee Little, the father of slain Victorian woman Alicia Little, was one of the headline guests on the special public forum hosted by the Channel 9 program on Wednesday night. The rare and critical gathering allowed victims of gender-based violence to come face-to-face with key figures in policy, law enforcement and the judiciary on a special hour-long edition of the news program. Mr Little was joined by Alicia's son Bronson and daughter-in-law Lauren where the family said nothing was being done about violence in the community. 'It just, it breaks my heart to see this happening every day,' Ms Little said to the forum. Charles McKenzie Ross Evans, Ms Little's former partner, was jailed for four years after violently running her down at a home in Kyneton in December 2017. Lee Little and Bronson Little spoke about their experience of losing Alicia, claiming the DPP only brought them along to one meeting to 'appease' them. A Current Affair/ Nine Credit: Supplied Evans was initially charged with murder over Ms Little's death, which occurred after she attempted to leave the violent relationship. He eventually pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to render assistance after his charges were downgraded. Evans was jailed for four years for Ms Little's death but was released on parole in 2020, moving to NSW. Bronson Little voiced his anger at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and how they could not help defend his sister, claiming the family had a shocking encounter with the body. 'They sat my family in a room for 45 minutes and listened to our questions, and at the end of it they said to us, we only brought you here to appease you,' he said. 'To be perfectly honest, the system failed us. 'The system failed my family.' David Heilpern, a former magistrate who sat on the panel, said he has bailed men who have gone on to kill. Mr Heilpern said the system 'needs to change'. 'We actually need a holistic change to ensure that victims of violence take pride of place in the criminal justice system, rather than just being a another case.' Former magistrate David Heilpern said the system needs to change. A Current Affair/ Nine Credit: Supplied At least 36 Australian women have been killed in 2025 so far, according to Australian Femicide Watch. Sue and Lloyd Clarke, the parents of Hannah Clarke - who was murdered by alongside her three children by her estranged husband Rowan Baxter - said that it continue to get harder grieving their family's loss. Sue and Lloyd Clarke, parents of Hannah Clarke, told the forum about their family's experience. A Current Affair/ Nine Credit: Supplied 'I think you miss them more for a while. 'You're in shock and you can explain away that you know they're away or something. 'But it gets harder,' Ms Clarke said. Domestic Violence helplines
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Childcare changes just a 'bandaid' after abuse case
Child safety reforms fast-tracked after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences have been dismissed as "band-aid measures" that won't stop the alleged crimes being repeated. The Victorian government has ordered an urgent child safety review, the creation of a register of all early childhood educators and brought forward a ban on phones after two men were charged by sex crimes detectives. Childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of abusing eight children aged between five months and two years at one centre in Point Cook. Federal reforms have also been flagged after the allegations were revealed, including cutting funding for childcare centres that fail to meet minimum standards. But the rapid government response doesn't tackle the root causes of issues in a sector where half of all educators had been working for less than three years, early education advocate Lisa Bryant said. The industry had a highly casualised and underpaid workforce and it was dominated by private operators whose motive was to make money, she said. "The primary thing about making money is that you cut the number of educators and the quality of the educators," Ms Bryant told AAP. "If you're working with the same educators and the children all know you, that's really protective. Having a lot of casuals coming through your centre is not." Brown had worked at 20 childcare facilities since 2017 and health authorities have recommended 1200 children get tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution. Families of children who need testing will be entitled to $5000 payments to cover the cost of parents taking time off, travel and other requirements. On Wednesday it emerged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, from Hoppers Crossing, had appeared in court on the same day as Brown, charged with child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. The connection between the pair is not known but Wilson was charged by detectives investigating Brown's case. Parents and carers have reported long wait times to access support and health information from a government hotline since news of the childcare worker's arrest was made public. Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath acknowledged the delays but said 1300 families were supported over the phone on Tuesday. The Victorian government has ordered the child safety review, which must be completed by August 15, to consider making CCTV mandatory in centres. "It's a deterrent, if nothing else," Premier Jacinta Allan said. There have also been calls for a national register of childcare workers and a comprehensive overhaul of working with children checks. The checks were in urgent need of an overhaul with nationwide changes, industry body Early Learning Association Australia, the Act for Kids charity and Scouts Australia all said. "We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction - even if it is dismissed - can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there, but not in another," Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson said. But Ms Bryant said a national register would just be more paperwork for services and would become a "compliance system with no teeth", while the push for video cameras could deter possible offenders but discourage great educators. Brown was not known to Victoria Police until the start of the investigation and there were no formal complaints against him. He had a valid working with children check. NSW plans to move forward with a ban on people appealing their denial of working with children clearances, while it has already announced a move to get CCTV installed in childcare centres in the state. Parent advocate group The Parenthood has ramped up calls for a national early childhood watchdog, while the Greens are pushing for a royal commission into the childcare sector. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Child safety reforms fast-tracked after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences have been dismissed as "band-aid measures" that won't stop the alleged crimes being repeated. The Victorian government has ordered an urgent child safety review, the creation of a register of all early childhood educators and brought forward a ban on phones after two men were charged by sex crimes detectives. Childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of abusing eight children aged between five months and two years at one centre in Point Cook. Federal reforms have also been flagged after the allegations were revealed, including cutting funding for childcare centres that fail to meet minimum standards. But the rapid government response doesn't tackle the root causes of issues in a sector where half of all educators had been working for less than three years, early education advocate Lisa Bryant said. The industry had a highly casualised and underpaid workforce and it was dominated by private operators whose motive was to make money, she said. "The primary thing about making money is that you cut the number of educators and the quality of the educators," Ms Bryant told AAP. "If you're working with the same educators and the children all know you, that's really protective. Having a lot of casuals coming through your centre is not." Brown had worked at 20 childcare facilities since 2017 and health authorities have recommended 1200 children get tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution. Families of children who need testing will be entitled to $5000 payments to cover the cost of parents taking time off, travel and other requirements. On Wednesday it emerged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, from Hoppers Crossing, had appeared in court on the same day as Brown, charged with child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. The connection between the pair is not known but Wilson was charged by detectives investigating Brown's case. Parents and carers have reported long wait times to access support and health information from a government hotline since news of the childcare worker's arrest was made public. Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath acknowledged the delays but said 1300 families were supported over the phone on Tuesday. The Victorian government has ordered the child safety review, which must be completed by August 15, to consider making CCTV mandatory in centres. "It's a deterrent, if nothing else," Premier Jacinta Allan said. There have also been calls for a national register of childcare workers and a comprehensive overhaul of working with children checks. The checks were in urgent need of an overhaul with nationwide changes, industry body Early Learning Association Australia, the Act for Kids charity and Scouts Australia all said. "We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction - even if it is dismissed - can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there, but not in another," Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson said. But Ms Bryant said a national register would just be more paperwork for services and would become a "compliance system with no teeth", while the push for video cameras could deter possible offenders but discourage great educators. Brown was not known to Victoria Police until the start of the investigation and there were no formal complaints against him. He had a valid working with children check. NSW plans to move forward with a ban on people appealing their denial of working with children clearances, while it has already announced a move to get CCTV installed in childcare centres in the state. Parent advocate group The Parenthood has ramped up calls for a national early childhood watchdog, while the Greens are pushing for a royal commission into the childcare sector. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Child safety reforms fast-tracked after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences have been dismissed as "band-aid measures" that won't stop the alleged crimes being repeated. The Victorian government has ordered an urgent child safety review, the creation of a register of all early childhood educators and brought forward a ban on phones after two men were charged by sex crimes detectives. Childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of abusing eight children aged between five months and two years at one centre in Point Cook. Federal reforms have also been flagged after the allegations were revealed, including cutting funding for childcare centres that fail to meet minimum standards. But the rapid government response doesn't tackle the root causes of issues in a sector where half of all educators had been working for less than three years, early education advocate Lisa Bryant said. The industry had a highly casualised and underpaid workforce and it was dominated by private operators whose motive was to make money, she said. "The primary thing about making money is that you cut the number of educators and the quality of the educators," Ms Bryant told AAP. "If you're working with the same educators and the children all know you, that's really protective. Having a lot of casuals coming through your centre is not." Brown had worked at 20 childcare facilities since 2017 and health authorities have recommended 1200 children get tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution. Families of children who need testing will be entitled to $5000 payments to cover the cost of parents taking time off, travel and other requirements. On Wednesday it emerged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, from Hoppers Crossing, had appeared in court on the same day as Brown, charged with child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. The connection between the pair is not known but Wilson was charged by detectives investigating Brown's case. Parents and carers have reported long wait times to access support and health information from a government hotline since news of the childcare worker's arrest was made public. Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath acknowledged the delays but said 1300 families were supported over the phone on Tuesday. The Victorian government has ordered the child safety review, which must be completed by August 15, to consider making CCTV mandatory in centres. "It's a deterrent, if nothing else," Premier Jacinta Allan said. There have also been calls for a national register of childcare workers and a comprehensive overhaul of working with children checks. The checks were in urgent need of an overhaul with nationwide changes, industry body Early Learning Association Australia, the Act for Kids charity and Scouts Australia all said. "We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction - even if it is dismissed - can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there, but not in another," Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson said. But Ms Bryant said a national register would just be more paperwork for services and would become a "compliance system with no teeth", while the push for video cameras could deter possible offenders but discourage great educators. Brown was not known to Victoria Police until the start of the investigation and there were no formal complaints against him. He had a valid working with children check. NSW plans to move forward with a ban on people appealing their denial of working with children clearances, while it has already announced a move to get CCTV installed in childcare centres in the state. Parent advocate group The Parenthood has ramped up calls for a national early childhood watchdog, while the Greens are pushing for a royal commission into the childcare sector. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Child safety reforms fast-tracked after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences have been dismissed as "band-aid measures" that won't stop the alleged crimes being repeated. The Victorian government has ordered an urgent child safety review, the creation of a register of all early childhood educators and brought forward a ban on phones after two men were charged by sex crimes detectives. Childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of abusing eight children aged between five months and two years at one centre in Point Cook. Federal reforms have also been flagged after the allegations were revealed, including cutting funding for childcare centres that fail to meet minimum standards. But the rapid government response doesn't tackle the root causes of issues in a sector where half of all educators had been working for less than three years, early education advocate Lisa Bryant said. The industry had a highly casualised and underpaid workforce and it was dominated by private operators whose motive was to make money, she said. "The primary thing about making money is that you cut the number of educators and the quality of the educators," Ms Bryant told AAP. "If you're working with the same educators and the children all know you, that's really protective. Having a lot of casuals coming through your centre is not." Brown had worked at 20 childcare facilities since 2017 and health authorities have recommended 1200 children get tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution. Families of children who need testing will be entitled to $5000 payments to cover the cost of parents taking time off, travel and other requirements. On Wednesday it emerged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, from Hoppers Crossing, had appeared in court on the same day as Brown, charged with child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. The connection between the pair is not known but Wilson was charged by detectives investigating Brown's case. Parents and carers have reported long wait times to access support and health information from a government hotline since news of the childcare worker's arrest was made public. Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath acknowledged the delays but said 1300 families were supported over the phone on Tuesday. The Victorian government has ordered the child safety review, which must be completed by August 15, to consider making CCTV mandatory in centres. "It's a deterrent, if nothing else," Premier Jacinta Allan said. There have also been calls for a national register of childcare workers and a comprehensive overhaul of working with children checks. The checks were in urgent need of an overhaul with nationwide changes, industry body Early Learning Association Australia, the Act for Kids charity and Scouts Australia all said. "We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction - even if it is dismissed - can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there, but not in another," Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson said. But Ms Bryant said a national register would just be more paperwork for services and would become a "compliance system with no teeth", while the push for video cameras could deter possible offenders but discourage great educators. Brown was not known to Victoria Police until the start of the investigation and there were no formal complaints against him. He had a valid working with children check. NSW plans to move forward with a ban on people appealing their denial of working with children clearances, while it has already announced a move to get CCTV installed in childcare centres in the state. Parent advocate group The Parenthood has ramped up calls for a national early childhood watchdog, while the Greens are pushing for a royal commission into the childcare sector. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
For-profit childcare operators defend ‘highly regulated' system amid calls for reform
Private childcare operators that employed an alleged child sexual abuser in their Melbourne centres have defended the existing system, one saying that things were already 'highly regulated' as childcare advocates call for a national register and higher staffing ratios to weed out paedophiles. On Wednesday, as the Victorian government unveiled a suite of new measures including $50,000 fines for centres that do not enforce a ban on staff carrying smartphones and establishment of a statewide register of workers, there were also calls to bolster protocols nationally to address claims of slipping standards, particularly among for-profit operators. All 15 childcare centres where accused child sex abuser Joshua Dale Brown worked over eight years – some for just days – were privately owned. The case underlines recent concerns about which corners are being cut by private operators, who critics say are putting profit ahead of child welfare. A recent ABC report highlighted testimony from a former manager at privately owned Affinity Education who described the culture as 'profit at all times'. Brown worked at four different Affinity centres, which are owned by Quadrant Private Equity. Two centres were owned by G8 Education, which had a market capitalisation of around $1 billion before news of Brown's arrest became public. Its share price has slipped almost 10 per cent in the less than two days since the allegations were made public. G8's chief executive Pejman Okhovat received remuneration totalling $3.3 million in 2024. His total actual remuneration, which is sometimes used as a more accurate reflection of pay, totalled $1.53 million.
