Is the existing child safety framework strong enough?

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Anan once said, "There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children."

Hence, with more than 16 months having elapsed since the Australian Federal Police, the NSW Police and QLD Police announced an early childhood educator was charged with 1,623 assaults against 91 children, the following are questions that come to mind:

1. Despite 1,623 offences, why have there only been 304 convictions reported thus far?

2. Can we primarily rely on Working With Children Checks?

3. Are existing whistleblower protections adequate?

4. Did any of the relevant laws and regulations fail?

5. Given 12 years of the NQF, can the Regulatory Authorities use their records of breaches and non-compliances to anticipate (perhaps using visibility of their records on Quality Area 2 - Children's Health and Safety)?

ACECQA did publish in December 2023 its Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework as well as a voluntary and transitional (to potentially mandatory) National Model Code for using electronic devices to capture images in early childhood education and care services.

ACA NSW is interested in receiving feedback and input on the above, as well as if and how child safety culture (for children aged birth to 5 years old) should include:

• online safety incoporated into educational practices and programming;

• differentiating services' equipment, smart toys and choice and use of search engines, apps; and

• addressing artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI?

For any further information/clarification, members can contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 16 DECEMBER 2024