This has been once again a difficult week for early childhood education services and families. We, too, are deeply disturbed that the regulatory systems have allowed such widespread abuse and misconduct to occur.
Our hearts and minds are with those children and families affected from this or other instances of similar abuse. This situation is unimaginable and heartbreaking.
It is critical that our regulatory systems protect children, ensure quality and that parents can rest-easy knowing their children are protected and thriving in their early learning environments.
We remain deeply committed to both child safety and quality and are keen to support any and all policy discussions to enable a better system moving forward.
We acknowledge the recent report and recommendations from the independent review in the NSW Department of Education’s activities as the NSW Regulatory Authority for early childhood education and care by former Deputy NSW Ombudsman Chris Wheeler. The full report requires careful consideration, but we welcome the key immediate reforms underway including:
- establishing an independent early childhood regulator,
- increasing transparency for families, giving parents and carers more information, particularly when investigations are underway at ECEC services,
- proposing legislative amendments to enabling legislation, and
- conducting a small-scale trial of CCTV to protect children and enhance investigations.
Koorana takes its responsibility to protect our children seriously and is keen to see the system enable and assure this.
