The Victorian government has announced a child safety overhaul after an independent review revealed systemic failings, underfunding and outdated practices within the early education sector. Jacinta Allan's government commissioned the Rapid Child Safety Review six weeks ago, after serious allegations of child sexual abuse by former childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown. The report was delivered to the government on Friday, making 22 recommendations, including strengthening Work with Children Checks, which the report found were not fit for purpose.
Allan has committed to implementing all of the recommendations, ensuring a $42 million funding boost to assist the shake-up. (Nine)Mandatory online child safety testing and training was recommended for everyone with a Working with Children Check.
Allan has committed to implementing all of the recommendations, ensuring a $42 million funding boost to assist the shake-up.
"The recent allegations of shocking abuse in childcare centres have exposed a system that simply isn't working," Allan said.
"This sickens me not just as a Premier, but as a mum.
"Legislation will be introduced into Parliament next week to immediately suspend Working with Children Checks when an individual is under police investigation and will speed up mandatory training for staff to make sure every safety concern is heard and addressed," Allan said.
It's hoped the revamp will see more frequent inspections at childcare centres across the state, with a goal for all centres to be visited unannounced once a year.
The report recommended the establishment of an independent regulator which would more than double the frequency of compliance checks.
More than half the recommendations were aimed at the state government, but the review stressed a national approach was needed to rebuild the broken system.
Allan said she would advocate to the Commonwealth government for immediate changes to national legislation, including imposing higher penalties on operators who breach national laws.
"As the Rapid Child Safety Review has found: The actions of Victoria alone will not fix the quality and safety issues in early childhood education and care," Allan said.
"We will keep working with the Federal Government to deliver the national reforms families expect and deserve."
The report stopped short of calling for CCTV in childcare centres but suggested a national trial.
State, territory and federal ministers will meet this Friday to discuss a collaborative approach to the issue on a national level.