National Screening System for Childcare Workers Remains Incomplete After Decade of Recommendations

Strategic Insights -

A long-awaited national screening system for childcare workers is still incomplete, despite a decade-old recommendation from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The lack of action has been slammed as "shameful" by a former royal commissioner, as a childcare operator reviews records for an ex-worker accused of sexual abuse. Joshua Dale Brown, a 26-year-old man, has been charged with more than 70 sex offences after allegedly abusing eight children aged under two at a Melbourne facility.

The childcare operator, Affinity Education, has revealed that Brown worked at 20 centres since 2017, and is now reviewing its records following reports he might have been employed longer than first thought. The parents of 1,200 children have been told to get them tested for sexually transmitted infections as a precaution. The lack of a national screening system has left a gap in child safeguarding, according to Robert Fitzgerald, a former royal commissioner. Every state and territory maintains separate working with children schemes, with different rules and requirements, including Victoria, Queensland, and NSW, which have all committed to reviewing or tightening up their regimes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Joshua Dale Brown, a 26-year-old, has been charged with more than 70 sex offences after allegedly abusing eight children aged under two at a Melbourne facility.
  • Brown worked at 20 centres since 2017, and the childcare operator, Affinity Education, is now reviewing its records.
  • The parents of 1,200 children have been told to get them tested for sexually transmitted infections as a precaution.
  • A national screening system for childcare workers remains unfulfilled, despite a decade-old recommendation from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
  • Every state and territory maintains separate working with children schemes, with different rules and requirements.
  • Victoria, Queensland, and NSW have committed to reviewing or tightening up their regimes.
  • Robert Fitzgerald, a former royal commissioner, has slammed governments for dragging their feet on creating a national regime for working with children checks.

Statistics:

  • 20 centres where Joshua Dale Brown worked since 2017
  • 1,200 children whose parents have been told to get them tested for sexually transmitted infections as a precaution
  • 70+ sex offences charges against Joshua Dale Brown
  • 10 years since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse made its recommendation for a national screening system

Sources:

  • AAP (Australian Associated Press)
  • Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2015 report)
  • Affinity Education spokesperson