How have parents and advocates responded to the childcare reforms?

Parents and advocates say the reforms are a step in the right direction, but they want more action to keep kids in childcare safe, including the development of a national register for early childhood educators and teachers, as well as greater consultation with families on further reforms.

Home / Education / Childcare Reforms Enacted, but Parents Seek Stronger Safeguards for Kids

Childcare Reforms Enacted, but Parents Seek Stronger Safeguards for Kids

Q: What are the key reforms being implemented in the Australian childcare sector?

The Australian government has enacted reforms to ensure that anyone prevented from holding a working-with-children check in one state or territory will now be automatically banned across the country, closing a critical loophole.

Q: What recent high-profile case has highlighted the need for stronger childcare safety measures?

In a recent case, a Melbourne worker named Joshua Dale Brown was charged with dozens of sex offenses, including the alleged abuse of eight children. Brown is known to have worked at 24 facilities between 2017 and the time of his arrest, prompting widespread testing of over 1,200 children for sexually transmitted infections.

16 Aug

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Summary

Reforms to improve working-with-children checks across Australia
Compliance action initiated against 30 early childhood centers
Parents call for more consultation and systemic changes

In a move to enhance child safety in Australia's childcare sector, the government has enacted reforms to improve working-with-children checks. As of 2025-08-16T06:30:34+00:00, anyone prevented from holding a working-with-children check in one state or territory will now be automatically banned across the country, closing a critical loophole.

While welcoming this "first step," parents, advocates, and the nation's early learning body say more comprehensive changes are required to protect children in care. They emphasize the need for a national register for early childhood educators and teachers, as well as greater consultation with families on further reforms.

The changes come after a recent high-profile case in which a Melbourne worker, Joshua Dale Brown, was charged with dozens of sex offenses, including the alleged abuse of eight children. Brown is known to have worked at 24 facilities between 2017 and the time of his arrest, prompting widespread testing of over 1,200 children for sexually transmitted infections.

Education Minister Jason Clare has also announced compliance action against 30 early childhood centers for failing to meet safety standards, with funding to be stripped from non-compliant facilities. The nation's education ministers are set to consider additional child safety laws in the coming week.

Parents and groups like For Parents are calling for a stronger voice in the reform process, arguing that families deserve a seat at the table when it comes to safeguarding their children in childcare.

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