Latest news with #maleeducators
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- The Guardian
Childcare centres must put child protection above profits and fears of appearing biased against men
Australians are reeling from the news that Victorian childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown has been charged with more than 70 alleged offences against children, including rape. As 1,200 children await results for sexually transmitted infections, a horror no parent should ever face, media commentary has begun to focus on how this case might have implications for male childcare workers. Early childhood education is a heavily female-dominated field, and past inquiries into child sexual abuse by male educators have found that, in efforts to avoid appearing discriminatory, male workers are often subject to less scrutiny. This dynamic is compounded by efforts for gender balance in childcare, particularly for the perceived benefits of male role models. Ironically, this fear of seeming biased can create the very conditions that offenders exploit – grooming colleagues, parents and children to commit abuse while hidden in plain sight. While it is an uncomfortable fact to confront, research shows men with a sexual interest in children are disproportionately more likely to work with children, including in early education and care. Recent data shows that one in 20 men in the Australian community are motivated offenders (individuals who reported both sexual interest in and offending against children). However, they are almost three times more likely to work with children compared with other men. Unfortunately, systematic data on child sexual abuse in childcare is limited. However, existing findings align with the only comprehensive study conducted on this issue, which followed the highly publicised McMartin Preschool trial in the US. This study examined cases from 1983 to 1985, and identified 270 daycare centres where 1,639 children were found to have experienced substantiated sexual abuse. Although men made up only about 5% of childcare staff, they were responsible for 60% of the offences. The abuse was often severe, with 93% of victims subjected to some form of penetrative sexual violence. Those who deliberately pursue employment with children to abuse them are often referred to as 'professional perpetrators'. These individuals typically have multiple victims and pose a high risk of repeated harm. In our current research on serial child sex offenders in childcare in Australia and internationally, we identified six cases involving between seven and 87 confirmed victims under the age of five. Five of the offenders were male and one was female. Together, they sexually abused at least 245 children. There were striking similarities across these cases. Offenders primarily targeted pre-verbal children, evaded detection for long periods, and were only exposed through external investigations, most often related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Much like the details emerging from the case of Joshua Dale Brown in Victoria, none of these offenders was uncovered through internal safeguarding systems. As is also alleged in the case of Brown, the perpetrators in our case studies were not isolated offenders. They were operating within online communities that normalise and reinforce abusive behaviour and the sharing of child sex abuse material of children who were in their care. If, as some suggest, male workers are subject to close and sometimes unfair scrutiny, these cases highlight a troubling contradiction. Despite this purported scrutiny, child sexual abuse by male staff can and does occur over extended periods without detection in childcare settings. In fact, evidence from another case suggests staff are often hesitant to raise concerns about male colleagues for fear of being perceived as discriminatory. It is important to highlight that although women comprise a small minority of child sexual abuse offenders, the reluctance to view women, particularly mothers, as potential perpetrators can also contribute to such abuse going undetected. There also needs to be greater awareness of how these offenders infiltrate and groom institutions. In the case studies we analysed, offenders were seen as kind and competent workers. They were often friendly with management or held senior positions themselves, and would socialise outside of work with families whose children they cared for. Even when whistleblowers raised an alarm about the offenders, these concerns were often dismissed, with some offenders even being promoted. While most child sexual abuse occurs within families, institutional abuse is no less serious. Unlike families, institutions that work with children can be effectively regulated, making such abuse entirely preventable through robust and consistently enforced safeguarding measures. Since children under five may not be developmentally capable of reporting abuse, safeguards must be proactive and preventative. Childcare centres should implement surveillance measures in most areas and observe the 'four eyes' rule, requiring at least two adults to be present during nappy changes and other care tasks. A strict no-phone policy could also reduce the risk of image-based offending. Moreover, we must confront the uncomfortable truth that some men are drawn to work with children because of a sexual interest in them. Truly centring child protection in early education means prioritising children's safety above profit, reputational concerns, and fears of appearing biased against men. Preventing child sexual abuse in childcare is not only possible, it is a collective responsibility we must all uphold. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Dr Martyn Mills-Bayne: Parents are feeling anxious about men in childcare centres: This is what needs to be done
Horrific allegations of child sexual abuse in childcare centres across Melbourne have put the role of men in early childhood education back in the spotlight. Coming after other major media reports of child mistreatment in care, many parents are feeling very anxious about the safety of their children. Some may be deeply suspicious of men working so closely with children. That caution is totally justified. But there are many innocent, well-intentioned and caring men working in centres across the country. They're playing a vital role in a sector already plagued by well-documented staff shortages. Driving them out of the workforce would be a mistake for the sector, for parents and for children. Hyper-viligant behaviour Men are still a rarity in childcare centres nationally. The latest workforce data show about 8 per cent of early childhood educators are male, though that statistic could include men who don't work with children directly. We don't know precisely how many early childhood educators are male, but best estimates are somewhere between 2–4 per cent of the total workforce. Given there are so few of them, male educators often report being hyper-vigilant about how they do their jobs. I was once an early childhood teacher myself. Now in my academic research, I've spent almost 20 years mentoring men in the sector, including close to 100 male students coming through initial teacher education programs. They are extremely aware of protecting children and themselves. They talk about trying to make sure they're never alone with children and use distancing strategies to keep themselves safe and in full view of colleagues and parents. If they're changing nappies, they do so in open spaces, where others can see them. If a child is hurt or needs support, they often think twice about the most appropriate way to provide it. The men I hear from feel they are surveilled and monitored more closely than their female colleagues. Male educators must use a heightened degree of caution in their day-to-day caring work due to broad (largely unspoken) suspicions of sexual misconduct. This is an inherent part of being a male early childhood educator. There's been no research done to determine whether men are watched more closely than women, but regardless, most don't begrudge it. They fear ever harming a child, and would rather the extra supervision, perceived or real, to make everyone feel safer. Leaving the sector But early childhood education has an issue with worker attrition. This is especially concerning as pre-school for three-year-olds is rolled out in South Australia, Victoria and the ACT, increasing the demand for staff and pressure on services to meet staff ratios and keep children safe. Against this backdrop, it's crucial we stem the tide of workers leaving the sector, including men. Unfortunately, men are often the first to leave, especially after cases of sexual abuse at other centres. In New Zealand, Peter Ellis was jailed in the 1990s for child sexual abuse in a creche, though his conviction was overturned posthumously in 2022. The high profile case had long lasting negative impacts. Less than 1% of the childcare workforce in the country are men - one of the lowest participation rates in the world. Parental and societal concerns around the risk of abuse have a profound impact on retaining and attracting more male educators in early childhood education. This is also true at the student level. Typically, I see very few men enrol to study early childhood education (about four in a cohort of 150), but only about half that graduate. Many of these potential early childhood teachers drop their studies or move into primary teaching programs after they experience a sense of distrust during their professional placements in childcare. Keeping children safer Children who are abused experience lifelong trauma. Keeping them safe at all times should be the number one priority of educators and society at large. The Melbourne case has left many parents rightly cautious and feeling uncertain about leaving their children in the care of men. We may well see less interest from centres in employing men, as has happened after similar cases in the past. This would build on existing suspicions parents have of male educators. There's no easy answer to this. But there are some things that may make early education safer. The first is to strengthen working with children screening checks, something the Victorian government has already flagged it will do. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has also announced a statewide register of childcare workers to introduce 'an extra layer of checks and balances'. Another is to ensure no educator, regardless of gender, is ever alone with a child. Though this may be challenging to achieve within tight staffing levels, it's needed to prevent future abuse. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted the need to make sure the physical environment minimises opportunity for abuse to occur. This includes glass walls around toilet and nappy change areas and no blind spots in centres. And finally, for parents to be scared and angry about this is to be human. But it's also important to remember many men are doing the right thing, and male educators in the sector are also angry and concerned about this. Better processes and regulations would help restore confidence in parents that their children are safe in a man's care. But it would also help male educators, who can do their work safe in the knowledge they've passed a robust set of requirements to get there. Dr Martyn Mills-Bayne is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Australia. He has taught Initial Teacher Education across early childhood and primary programs for over 17 years. Before becoming a university teacher educator, he taught in junior primary schools and preschools across Adelaide's North and North-East suburbs.
