Sydney: The Australia childcare safety laws are set for major reforms following the arrest of a Melbourne childcare worker charged with more than 70 child sex offences involving children as young as five months old.
Police said that the 26-year-old, identified as Joshua Brown, was arrested in May and faces charges relating to eight victims aged five months to two years.
The disturbing case has alarmed thousands of families nationwide and renewed scrutiny of the early childcare sector, less than a year after another former childcare worker was jailed for life for abusing nearly 70 children.
In response, Education Minister Jason Clare has asked his department to urgently draft new Australia childcare safety laws to give the federal government power to pull funding from childcare centers that fail to meet safety standards. Clare said that the reforms aim to ensure any service that does not maintain proper safety and quality measures loses its government support immediately.
Authorities have also advised about 1,200 children to undergo tests to rule out exposure to any infectious diseases. Police confirmed that another man, known to Brown, has also been charged with related offences.
Clare said he would review the system for issuing permits to work with children, as Brown held a valid permit when arrested.
Victoria State Premier Jacinta Allan called the allegations ‘sickening’ and said families are right to ask how such abuse could happen in a childcare center. Allan said the state would fast-track national changes, including introducing a register of childcare workers and banning personal devices in centers starting September 26.
“This will be a short, sharp piece of work that will focus on the immediate actions we can take,” Allan added.
The strengthened Australia childcare safety laws aim to restore public trust and prevent future abuse cases in early education settings.
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