Ministers from every state and territory across Australia are finally, and urgently, scrambling to close gaping chasms in child safety laws that have existed for years. Recent incidents, including a shocking case of alleged child abuse at a center in Victoria, have intensified calls for reform. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare welcomes the sweeping change of direction toward improving child care safety which is still rolling out. He and advocacy groups say that’s insufficient to protect children in care.
At the same time, the demand for reform has grown more urgent, with advocates and industry stakeholders alike growing impatient at the pace of progress. Federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland plans to write to state counterparts urging that these reforms be prioritized, indicating a collective commitment to enhancing child safety.
Calls for Comprehensive Reform
Georgie Dent, a children’s safety advocate, said reforms represented a positive step. Yet, she argues, they still fall short of what’s required to be truly effective and impactful. She stresses that for the early childhood sector to truly work for children, it needs a complete reset so we’re all better protecting our most vulnerable children.
“We don’t need a reaction to the latest horror stories, we need systemic reform,” – Ms. Dent
Dent’s analysis primarily identifies gaps in current measures, like a ban on mobile phones in childcare settings. “Our quality framework is world-leading, but if it’s not able to be implemented and enforced then it doesn’t count,” she stated. Recent reports have indicated that many services are running out of compliance with minimum standards incompliance. This enhances the urgency of taking action to close these gaps.
“It’s possible for services to be rated ‘working towards’ [compliance] and to continue operating. That is not acceptable,” – Ms. Dent
She thinks the permanent changes being made aren’t enough to plug the legislative loopholes that still exist. These gaps have done nothing but leave children vulnerable for far too long. Without a systemic approach to reform, Reiman feels that the safety of children continues to be exposed.
Legislative Developments and Support
New South Wales, in Australia’s southeast, has already been very assertive in addressing a recent scandal related to child abuse. They have demonstrated bipartisan leadership by calling for CCTV legislation in childcare centers. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan recently announced these bold plans for the state. They will look to use CCTV cameras to strengthen safety protection.
Education Minister Jason Clare acknowledged that the process of reforming background safety checks for childcare workers has taken too long. He emphasized the importance of making sure these checks are proactive and effective. Changes will require mandatory reporting of complaints regarding abuse within 24 hours, alongside upgrades to systems facilitating near-real-time updates on concerns regarding working with children.
“They’re not the only thing we need to fix or reform here. They are not a silver bullet,” – Jason Clare
Clare’s comments underscore a developing consensus among ministers. They agree that major reforms are needed, but they are unwilling to view these changes as silver bullet, stand alone solutions. These crucial reforms now need to be advanced further at the attorneys-general’s meeting scheduled for next month.
Frustration Over Delayed Action
In all the excitement and urgency of these reforms, it seems every advocate and every legislator is twiddling their thumbs at the long drawn out approach to implementation. As an Australian leader in the field of child welfare, Anne Hollonds challenged advocates to answer why we’ve been so slow to progress.
“Why have we been so slow to get on with this?” – Ms. Hollonds
She added, “In a way, because it is children, we haven’t gotten on with it fast enough.” This feeling strikes a chord with a lot of people who feel that systemic problems have let them be in dangerous situations without notice or protection.
On the federal front, Georgie Dent touched upon the complicated relationship between state and federal governments on these matters. She emphasized how often the two levels of government just blame each other. This new blame game scapegoats teachers and makes it impossible to enact meaningful reforms.
“It’s possible for the states to point to the Commonwealth government and say ‘you should have done this’, and it is possible for the Commonwealth government to point to the states and say ‘you should have done this’,” – Ms. Dent
Ministers are almost knee-deep in these discussions and strategizing their next moves. They empathise with the immediate need for action now to ensure the best interest of all of Australia’s children.
