Latest news with #TomasiMariner
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Daily Mail
I refused to send my children to daycare long before a worker was accused of sickening child sex offences… we really need to address an issue with the system
A father has revealed he refuses to send his children to daycare because he doesn't trust strangers to look after his kids. Tomasi Mariner said his long-held distrust was heightened by the arrests of childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, and Michael Simon Wilson, 36, last week. Wilson is not a childcare worker but is understood to be known to Brown. Brown has been charged with more than 70 child sex offences, including the sexual penetration of a child and producing child abuse material, while Wilson is facing 45 charges including rape and possession of child abuse material. Parents of 1,200 children were advised to consider testing them for sexually transmitted diseases after coming into contact with Brown. Mr Mariner said he had always been a firm believer in not leaving his children at daycare centres. 'There's only very few people that I trust my kids with,' he said in a TikTok. 'It's just very hard for me to trust people, especially with things that matter to me, you know, like my kids.' Mr Mariner said his partner had previously asked about considering enrolling their children after discussions with other parents. 'She said, 'Oh hey babe, do you think we should put the kids in daycare?'… we've never put our kids in daycare,' he said. 'I said, 'Darling, who gave birth to those kids?' She said, 'Yeah, I did.' I said, 'Right, so they're our kids, aren't they?"' Mr Mariner said he did not take the advice of other parents, instead suggesting they worry about their own issues. Mr Mariner clarified he had no problem with families who relied on childcare out of necessity but said he personally could not entrust his children to others. 'Some couples work and they need that service to watch the kids and you know, I'm not having a crack at that. I just don't trust people,' he said. 'I'd rather my partner spend time with the kids than put them in daycare, and vice versa.' Several early childhood educators took to the comment section to urge parents to reconsider centre-based care, and pushed for systemic reform in the industry. 'As an ex-childcare worker, I do not recommend daycare,' one wrote. 'Most employees are high school dropouts and are lazy and sit on their phones all day. Some are dedicated and love children, the others only care about "ticking all the boxes" and what's good for the centre. 'So, yeah, not worth it if you can help it.' Another said she had been in the industry for 13 years before having two babies herself. 'I won't put them in childcare because of things I've seen and how I've seen workers behave towards kids,' she wrote. 'I went on maternity leave and now my babies have left due to abuse once I left,' a third wrote. 'I'm heartbroken and angry for my babies and their families.' Others defended the industry. 'It's not the childcare, it's the abusers,' one wrote. 'How about let's put the accountability on the person and system that committed the offences, and not on parents,' another said. 'There's over 300,000 childcare workers in Australia. Some of those are amazing people,' a third added. 'Not everyone is blessed to have a parent at home always. Some people have to utilise these services.'
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Aussie dad offers blunt reality about getting into the property market
A no-nonsense Aussie dad has exposed the brutal reality of housing in Australia – and not everyone is going to like it. Queensland father-of-two Tomasi Mariner has opened up about the personal sacrifices he made to finally secure a home for his young family – including giving up drinks, social events and even his beloved golf and footy. After years of trying to get ahead, the 35-year-old made a choice that many Aussie families are now facing: Ditch the dream of living in a big city, or face financial stress. The underground coal miner turned social media sensation is better known by his online alias 'Tommy the Cowboy'. He boasts over 300,000 followers on Instagram and over 100,000 on YouTube, having a skyrocketed to fame in recent years due to his brutally honest opinions, advice and satirical content. Mr Mariner told that his best advice for young Australians doing it tough would be to 'live below your means, even if it means buying a house in an area that your budget and salary allows'. 'I was working as an underground coal miner on a salary of $200,000 - $240,000 and my wife is a registered nurse,' he said. 'Our borrowing power was well over $1 million but we didn't want to take on a mortgage that caused us financial stress. 'Take on a mortgage you can manage and still live a comfortable life. Look after your family first, manage your debts smartly and, more than anything, trust and believe in a plan that you and your partner have thought about.' Originally living in Rockhampton, Mr Mariner made the move to Brisbane with his wife and two kids in the hopes of chasing better work opportunities and more stability. But, as the cost of living crisis skyrocketed and house prices surged out of reach, reality hit hard. 'There's no shame in saying you can't afford something,' said Mr Mariner in a heartfelt social media post. 'When we moved to Brisbane the price of houses were way too high for what we could afford. I didn't want to put my family in that much financial stress.' After crunching the numbers, he realised staying in a city would mean sacrificing too much, so he made the bold call to move his family a third time. 'We packed up and bought in an area where we could afford. I put my family on a plane while I drove up 11 hours,' he said. The town in Central Queensland – which Mr Mariner has not named for privacy reasons -offered something the city couldn't: A chance at home ownership without the crushing debt. Within weeks the young family had the keys to their modest dwelling. 'I didn't waste any time. I started renovating the week of settlement. I would stay up until the early hours of the morning, scrubbing floors and painting,' he said. In a pointed message to other Aussie blokes, Mr Mariner said, 'Don't be afraid to be humble.' 'There's no shame in not being able to afford the flashiest house or car. As long as your family is looked after, a roof over their head and there's food on the table, you've done your job,' he added. As the cost of living crisis continues to batter the nation, many Aussies have echoed these sentiments. 'Sensational set of morals and values with a humbling hard working attitude,' said one. 'Sacrifice pays off,' agreed another. 'This is exactly what it's about! As long as you're all fed and you've got somewhere safe – the family makes the home,' said a third. With a median-income household now needing to save for 10.6 years just to afford a deposit, the Australian dream of owning a home has never felt further away. Further, amid the cost-of-living crisis it's become increasingly common for Aussies to undertake tasks usually done by professionals to save some cash. In 2023, Aussies ranked third globally for their love of home renovation with over 57 per cent of Australians considered to be 'DIY-ers'. A massive 44 per cent of respondents said their reason for doing the tasks themselves was to 'improve their home in a more affordable way'.
