Latest news with #PejmanOkhovat
BBC News
09-07-2025
- BBC News
G8 Education: Australian childcare operator to install CCTV after abuse claims
One of Australia's largest private childcare operators will speed up the rollout of CCTV across more than 400 centres, days after child sex abuse allegations against an employee emerged.G8 Education will also let parents and carers choose who can change their children's nappies and take them to the toilet, the firm Dale Brown, 26, is charged with more than 70 offences, including child rape, allegedly committed against eight children at a G8 Education-owned centre in Melbourne between 2022 and firm's boss said the allegations were "deeply disturbing" and apologised for the "unimaginable pain caused to our families". The Australian-listed company operates almost two dozen childcare centre brands and employs about 10,000 staff who look after about 41,000 children. In an announcement on Tuesday, the company's managing director Pejman Okhovat said it will also commission an independent review of the allegations against Brown once the police investigation and criminal proceedings have finished. "Our primary focus right now is on supporting all families who are impacted, as well as our team members in Victoria," he said. The rollout of CCTV across all of G8 Education's centres will be "accelerated" and comes after a trial at some locations, the firm said, but it did not give a timeline on the rollout. "While installation will take time, we are committed to transparency and will keep our families and team informed with timely updates as more information becomes available," a company spokesperson said. Asked if families and staff will have to give consent before being monitored, the company said it understands "the importance of adhering to child safety, child dignity, privacy and data protection requirements".The company will also "commit to adherence with all relevant privacy laws and sector regulations and the adoption of best practice cyber security measures", it added. The spokesperson did not say who will operate the CCTV systems, who will have access to the footage or how long the footage will be child safety expert and ex-detective Kristi McVee, CCTV "will only be as good as the humans who manage it"."It can be circumvented and evidence can be destroyed to protect the interests of the organisation," she told the the case of Ashley Paul Griffiths - currently serving a life sentence for raping and sexually abusing almost 70 young girls in childcare centres in Australia and overseas - CCTV at the centres where he worked did not act as a deterrent, McVee Daryl Higgins, who heads Australian Catholic University's Institute of Child Protection Studies, echoed those concerns."It's not a silver bullet," Professor Higgins said, "and would require significant consultation about if, where, how and why we'd implement it"."Who would view the footage and how would it be used?" he asked. Martyn Mills-Bayne, a senior lecturer in early childhood education at the University of South Australia, worries CCTV will provide a "false sense of security" and allow operators to delay better measures such as increasing staff also said that giving parents and carers the option to chose who changes nappies and takes children to the toilets may put extra pressure on female workers and could lead to gender discrimination in hiring into Brown's alleged offences found he had worked at 20 childcare centres - including centres not operated by G8 Education - between 2017 and his arrest in May this prompted health authorities to ask the families of about 1,200 children who had been under Brown's care at those centres to undergo testing for infectious tests were a "precaution", authorities said. The allegations against Brown also prompted state and federal governments to promise more stringent staff checks and regulations in the childcare is accused of child rape and sexual assault offences as well as producing and transmitting child abuse material, relating to children between the ages of five months and two years old. He is yet to enter a plea, but has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court in September.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- The Guardian
News live: Australia reportedly in talks over Ukraine defence pact; childcare provider to install CCTV
Update: Date: 2025-07-08T20:36:47.000Z Title: G8 Education to install CCTV in its childcare centres Content: Australia's largest childcare provider, G8 Education, will install CCTV in all of its centres and allow parents to provide preferences on who conducts nappy changes and toileting after child abuse charges were laid against a former employee, Joshua Dale Brown. Dale, 26, was charged with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims aged between five months and two years old. In an announcement to investors on Tuesday evening, managing director and chief executive of G8 Education Limited, Pejman Okhovat, said the team was 'horrified and appalled' by the allegations. 'These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to all the children and families involved. I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through.' Okhovat said following the trial of CCTV in several centres, it would be rolled out to all operators in light of the allegations. In addition to greater parents' choice over their children's care, G8 would also commission an independent review into the incident following the police investigation and criminal proceedings. Update: Date: 2025-07-08T20:36:47.000Z Title: RecipeTin Eats cook upset her beef wellington recipe 'entangled in a tragic situation' Content: Nagi Maehashi, the Australian cook behind RecipeTin Eats, says it is 'upsetting' to have become 'entangled in a tragic situation' after it was revealed her beef wellington recipe was used by Erin Patterson to lace a meal with death cap mushrooms. During the trial, Patterson said she made multiple changes to the RecipeTin Eats recipe she was using to prepare the fatal beef wellington two years ago. It was a dish she had never made, but she wanted to try something special for her guests, she said. The recipe is described on Maehashi's website as 'incredibly juicy, edge-to-edge rose pink beef encased in pastry boasting a flawlessly crispy base'. It is only available in her debut cookbook, Dinner. In a post to Instagram on Tuesday, Maehashi requested journalists 'please stop calling and emailing and texting and DM'ing me about the Erin Patterson case'. It is of course upsetting to learn that one of my recipes – possibly the one I've spent more hours perfecting than any other – something I created to bring joy and happiness, is entangled in a tragic situation ... Thank you for respecting my privacy. On Monday, Patterson was found guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth. Update: Date: 2025-07-08T20:36:47.000Z Title: Welcome Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with some of the top overnight stories and then it'll be Rafqa Touma to guide you through the day. Australia is in negotiations with Ukraine about a security pact that could see the two countries firm up cooperation on intelligence sharing, according to briefing documents prepared for the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong. More coming up. One of the childcare operators at the centre of the abuse allegations in Victoria has told shareholders it plans to install CCTV in all of its sites and allow parents to provide preferences on who conducts nappy changes and toileting. More details shortly. The health regulator has recommended sunscreen manufacturers add safeguards to products containing two ingredients amid concern about their efficacy. We have more coming up.
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
One of Australia's largest daycare providers makes bombshell move after horrific child abuse allegations rocked the country
A major childcare operator says it will put CCTV cameras into more than 400 centres following the alleged sexual abuse of children by a former employee. G8 Education's move follows on from charges levelled at Joshua Dale Brown who is accused of more than 70 sex offences against eight children aged under two at a Point Cook childcare centre in Melbourne. The 26-year-old was arrested in May and it was revealed he worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne from 2017 to 2025. A parent of one child Brown allegedly abused is suing G8 Education as more than 100 families seek advice about their legal options. One of Australia's largest childcare providers, the publicly listed company issued a market update to the ASX on Tuesday, saying it will accelerate the rollout of CCTV cameras across its centres after trialling it at several locations. G8 Education also intends to commission an independent review once criminal proceedings are finalised. 'These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved,' chief executive Pejman Okhovat said. 'I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through.' G8 Education's share price dipped further to 94.5 cents on Tuesday and it has lost more than $170 million in value over the past week. Law firm Arnold, Thomas and Becker said parents from every listed impacted facility had made inquiries about legal action. Principal lawyer Jodie Harris said the firm was acting on behalf of a parent who was seeking damages. The parent has had to alter their work arrangements to care for the child because of the psychological impact. Ms Harris said more than 100 families had contacted the law firm over a range of queries, but a class action was yet to be confirmed. 'The level of inquiry we've had has been so overwhelming. It's been difficult,' she told AAP. The firm is looking into the cases but said there was complexity because of the number of different childcare centres involved and their potential liabilities. 'We can't have one class action that covers all childcare centres because there are different issues that involve each case,' Ms Harris said. An estimated 2,600 families and carers who had children at the centres during Brown's employment have been sent letters. More than 1,200 children have been recommended to undergo testing for infectious diseases. More than 1,200 children have been recommended to undergo testing for infectious diseases following the alleged assaults Ms Harris said parents were calling her firm angry their children had been put in such a distressing position. She said any legal claims were in respect to the parents because it could take many years to fully understand the impact on children who had been abused. 'It is difficult because the children are so young and it's not like they could go home and tell their parents what had happened,' Ms Harris said. 'Abuse that occurs in a child's life has lifelong impacts potentially on education, employment and relationships.' Other law firms, including Shine Lawyers and Maurice Blackburn, have received dozens of inquiries from parents and are providing legal advice. 'The grief and despair they're experiencing has been coupled with a white-hot rage directed at the alleged perpetrator and a system which is clearly broken,' Shine Lawyers chief operating officer Jodie Willey said. Arnold, Thomas and Becker is holding an information session at Century Lakes Function Centre on Thursday to provide parents with advice.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
Major changes after childcare worker arrest
Parents are set to be given more control over who is involved in their child's personal care routines, while CCTV is set to be rolled out across all 400 of G8 Education's childcare centres. G8 education operates Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook in Victoria where Joshua Dale Brown, 26, allegedly abused eight children between April 2022 and January 2023. It is alleged some of the children were as young as five months. In a statement to investors, G8 Education on Tuesday announced a broad package of additional safety measures in response to the allegations. The company confirmed it was accelerating the rollout of CCTV to every centre it operates nationwide following trials in several of their centres. G8 will also expand its use of Individual Learning Plans to allow parents to nominate preferences about which educators handle their child's personal care, including nappy changes and toileting. G8's managing director and chief executive Pejman Okhovat said he and his team had been meeting personally with families in Victoria in the wake of the allegations against their former employee. 'These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved,' he said. 'I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through, 'Our primary focus right now is on supporting all families who are impacted, as well as our team members in Victoria. 'We are continuing to work with Victoria Police, the Victorian government and other authorities as part of their ongoing investigation and are doing everything we can to give them the best chance of achieving justice for the children and families involved.' The company has also committed to commissioning an independent review of the incident once the criminal proceedings are concluded, to further strengthen its child safety procedures. G8 said that, while it already has comprehensive child safety policies in place, including banning devices in childcare rooms, mandatory reporting protocols, and ongoing staff training, it recognises the need to go further. Beyond its own network, G8 has called for broader sector reform, including the establishment of a national educator register, a unified Working with Children Check across states, and a national register of early childhood workers employment history. Authorities have released the details of all 20 childcare centres where Brown worked, including the dates of his employment. Parents and caregivers of 1200 children have been directed to have their kids tested for sexually transmitted infections out of an 'abundance of caution'.
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- News.com.au
G8 Education announces major overhaul with CCTV rollout, more parental control after childcare worker arrested
Parents are set to be given more control over who is involved in their child's personal care routines, while CCTV is set to be rolled out across all 400 of G8 Education's childcare centres. G8 education operates Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook in Victoria where Joshua Dale Brown, 26, allegedly abused eight children between April 2022 and January 2023. It is alleged some of the children were as young as five months. In a statement to investors, G8 Education on Tuesday announced a broad package of additional safety measures in response to the allegations. The company confirmed it was accelerating the rollout of CCTV to every centre it operates nationwide following trials in several of their centres. G8 will also expand its use of Individual Learning Plans to allow parents to nominate preferences about which educators handle their child's personal care, including nappy changes and toileting. G8's managing director and chief executive Pejman Okhovat said he and his team had been meeting personally with families in Victoria in the wake of the allegations against their former employee. 'These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved,' he said. 'I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through, 'Our primary focus right now is on supporting all families who are impacted, as well as our team members in Victoria. 'We are continuing to work with Victoria Police, the Victorian government and other authorities as part of their ongoing investigation and are doing everything we can to give them the best chance of achieving justice for the children and families involved.' The company has also committed to commissioning an independent review of the incident once the criminal proceedings are concluded, to further strengthen its child safety procedures. G8 said that, while it already has comprehensive child safety policies in place, including banning devices in childcare rooms, mandatory reporting protocols, and ongoing staff training, it recognises the need to go further. Beyond its own network, G8 has called for broader sector reform, including the establishment of a national educator register, a unified Working with Children Check across states, and a national register of early childhood workers employment history. Authorities have released the details of all 20 childcare centres where Brown worked, including the dates of his employment. Parents and caregivers of 1200 children have been directed to have their kids tested for sexually transmitted infections out of an 'abundance of caution'.
