CHILDCARE SAFETY CONCERNS: NATIONAL COMMISSION NEEDED TO ENSURE ENFORCEMENT OF QUALITY STANDARDS
Allegations of repeated safety breaches and violations across early learning centres run by one of Australia’s largest for-profit childcare providers [1] further underscore the need for a national early learning commission with strict enforcement and oversight powers.
Griffin Longley from Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign said establishing a national early learning commission was crucial to maintain the public’s trust in the early learning system by ensuring that Australia’s world-leading childcare safety standards were strictly enforced.
“Australia has world-leading early learning quality standards, however, these incidents highlight the urgent need for greater government leadership in early childhood education and care,” Mr Longley said.
“Most early learning providers across the country adhere to these quality standards, but even one breach is one too many when children’s safety is at risk.
“Recent reforms passed by the Federal Government to withhold or restrict government funding for childcare operators that breach safety standards [2] are a positive step in the right direction.
“However, only a national regulatory body with strict enforcement powers can ensure proper oversight.
“A national early learning commission will enable better coordination between State, Territory and Federal governments to help build a nationally consistent approach to enforcement and oversight.
“Holding early learning providers to account for safety and quality is crucial to maintaining public trust in the childcare sector and the best way to do that is to streamline our approach to enforcing safety standards through a national commission.
“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that his government would work towards establishing a truly universal early learning system in its second term.
“A national early learning commission with strict enforcement power should be an integral part of such a system.
“We implore the Federal Government to prioritise early learning safety reforms when Parliament reconvenes,” Mr Longley said.
[2] Australian Government – Strengthening safety and quality in early childhood education and care
