Ex-child care worker Bronte Ciracovitch pleads guilty to producing child exploitation material

A former child care worker, whose arrest sparked letters to 180 parents, has admitted producing online abuse material featuring one of the children in his care.

He was tasked with one of society’s most important roles – to care for children while their parents worked – now he has admitted to abusing one of them.

Bronte John Ciracovitch was due to face court next week over alleged offences committed while he was employed by Child Care Services Australia.

On Monday, however, his counsel had his case called on at late notice in the Adelaide Magistrates Court so he could plead guilty to one of his eight charges.

Ciracovitch, 30, pleaded guilty to having produced, or taken steps to produce, child exploitation material at one of his employer’s northern suburbs centres in late 2020.

Bronte John Ciracovitch has pleaded guilty to one of the child exploitation charges filed against him. Picture: Facebook

The victim of that offence, the court heard, was a child under the age of 14 years – meaning Ciracovitch faces a maximum sentence of 15 years’ jail.

The offence was further aggravated because Ciracovitch was, at the time “responsible for the care and wellbeing of the victim in the course of his employment”.

He had, the court heard, had therefore “abused his position of trust” in the commission of the offence.

Ciracovitch was arrested in September last year, but his identity was suppressed until March, when letters were sent to 180 families seeking information about his alleged offending.

Child Care Services Australia then released a statement saying Ciracovitch was no longer a member of its staff.

Ciracovitch’s lawyer says he intends to contest the remaining charges. Picture: Facebook

A different child care centre, at which he had also worked, wrote to its client base saying it was assisting police with their inquiries.

Just days later, Ciracovitch was rearrested in custody and charged with further offending including allegations he maintained an unlawful sexual relationship with a minor.

By virtue of his plea on Monday, Ciracovitch is entitled to a sentencing discount of up to 25 per cent when penalised for that single offence.

However, his counsel told the court they intended to contest the other, remaining charges.

Ciracovitch was remanded in custody to face court again in September.