Childcare educator register, mandatory training among new Government strategies set for next year
A national register of childcare workers and new mandatory child safety training will start next year under a raft of measures education ministers have agreed to improve safety in the sector.
The ministers also agreed that a national ban on personal mobile phones in childcare centres will come into effect within weeks, and a trial of CCTV will start in 300 centres in October or November.
They’ve also agreed to make sure there is more and better information available to parents about childcare centres, and to step up regulation including surprise spot checks.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The ministers held a special meeting on Friday to urgently consider the measures in the wake of allegations about serious abuse and misbehaviour by some educators, including sexual abuse charges laid in Queensland and Victoria.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the things agreed on Friday weren’t everything that needed to be done, but it was the next thing.
“Australia expects all of us to work together. They’re not interested in excuses,” he said.
“They expect Labor and Liberal, state, territory, federal … the private sector, the for-profits, the not-for-profits – they don’t give a damn about the difference or the breakdown or who’s responsible for what. They just want their kids to be safe.”
Ministers emphasised it was vital to rebuild parents’ confidence in the early education system, and that the work required everyone to step up.
More to come
