Australia Eyes Surprise Inspections, CCTV in Childcare Centres After Abuse Case

This comes after a worker was charged with abusing multiple children at a Melbourne centre.

Australian Education Minister Jason Clare speaks during the Universities Australia Conference dinner at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 22, 2023. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Spot checks, surveillance cameras, and funding cuts are on the table as the federal government scrambles to restore trust in childcare safety following allegations of sexual abuse at a Melbourne facility.

Education Minister Jason Clare said his department would introduce legislation during the first Parliament sitting fortnight later this month.

“One of the big weapons that the Commonwealth has, probably the biggest, is the funding that we provide to childcare centres—something like $16 billion a year,” he told Sky News.

“If the funding is cut, most of these centres won’t be able to operate.”

The proposed bill would also prevent low-performing centres from expanding and opening new facilities.

“It will further make sure that the department who investigates fraud in childcare centres [has] the ability to do spot checks, unannounced visits,” Clare said.

“They won’t need a warrant, they won’t need the police to come with them.”

150 Inspectors to Conduct Surprise Safety Audits

Clare said that 150 new inspectors would be hired to conduct random inspections of centres across the country.

These visits are designed to uncover fraudulent practices and lift safety standards.

He cited common rorts, such as centres claiming attendance for three days a week when a child is present only two days.

“This will give powers to my department and my investigators to go in and check if the child is actually there,” Clare said.

“It’s just one of the things that we do to improve the integrity of the system, as well as the things we need to do to improve safety for children.”

The government has already invested $200 million in fraud investigations over recent years, recovering about $300 million in taxpayer funds.

“It costs money, but ultimately it saves the taxpayer money,” he said.

Working With Children Checks to Be Overhauled

The federal government will also work with states to overhaul Working With Children Checks (WWCC) and criminal record systems.

Attorneys-General from across the country will meet next month to explore how records can be updated in near real-time and shared more effectively across jurisdictions.

“Part of it is about making sure that it’s updated in near real time. Part of it is about information sharing across borders,” Clare confirmed.

Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May said her party would renew its push for a $1.5 billion national Early Childhood Commission when federal parliament resumes in late July.

“An independent watchdog would enforce standards, act quickly on safety breaches, and lead systemic reform—not just provide retrospective fixes,” she said.

Parent advocacy group The Parenthood has already floated the idea of a petition backing this move.

CEO Georgie Dent said the lack of consistent, enforceable standards across services was unacceptable.

“Right now, there’s no clear way to ensure early learning services across Australia meet minimum safety and quality standards,” she said.

While calling the reforms essential, Clare urged caution.

“None of this is a silver bullet,” he said.

“I’m not going to comment specifically on the case in Victoria … but in other examples, we’ve found people who’ve been convicted of assaulting children in centres where they had a criminal record check.

“Why? Because they didn’t have a criminal record [at the time], and so they got through the system.”

CCTV, Gender Roles, and Staffing Concerns Under Review

Calls to install CCTV in all childcare centres were under review following a recent New South Wales report.

“One of the things that having a CCTV camera in a childcare centre can do is, if there’s somebody that’s potentially up to no good, they know the camera’s there, it means it’s less likely that they’re going to act,” Clare said.

But he also cautioned against overreliance.

“They know which spots aren’t covered by CCTV and will potentially take a child there. That’s why they have to be in the right places. How you set them up is just as critical as whether you’ve got them there at all,” he said.

Asked whether men should work in childcare centres, Clare was clear: “This is not just about men or women. Whoever works in our childcare centres—we’ve got to make sure that the safety of our system and the quality of our system is up to scratch.”

He cited the recent Four Corners exposé that revealed shocking abuse in centres, most of it by women.

Clare said ongoing reviews, including one he commissioned on childcare safety, were not focused on gender but rather on systemic improvements like CCTV, enhanced WWCCs, and national staff registers.

“There’s already staff shortages,” he added. “Men can also be excellent role models in education settings, which is important for young children.”

But Clare acknowledged that educator-to-child ratios remain a key issue.

“There’s just too many kids per educator, and this may potentially allow educators to be on their own with children for long periods of time,” he said.