Montessori Academy to roll out AI-powered CCTV across its centres in NSW, Victoria and ACT

A major childcare provider will rollout ‘proactive’ AI-powered CCTV across its centres as a state government mandates video surveillance in high-risk locations.

One of Australia’s big childcare providers is set to rollout a new AI security system it says will transform video surveillance from reactive to proactive protection in its centres.

The announcement comes as new laws passed by the New South Wales government on Thursday allow the education minister to direct services to install CCTV if there’s an unacceptable child safety risk, paving way for future laws in other states.

For-profit provider Montessori Academy says it’s leading the way with new AI-powered CCTV set to rollout at its 63 services across NSW, Victoria and the ACT.

Montessori Academy operations chief Rami Nassif said the new system is a national first and will make his centres safer.

“CCTV is a great deterrent,” Mr Nassif said.

“If someone is trying to infiltrate childcare for malicious reasons, the first thing they look for is CCTV.

Mr Nassif said his centres use a number of strategies to keep kids safe, including CCTV. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

“That’s why we’ve had CCTV in our centres for over 20 years.

“This AI system is the next level.”

Mr Nassif said the new system has trained on AI to monitor for a number of risks, including children left alone, inappropriate behaviour, faces covered while sleeping, student-educator ratios and children entering restricted areas.

The system can then notify the provider and centre manager autonomously when it identifies a risk, allowing educators to respond quicker.

Mr Nassif said the cameras would cover all blind spots, but would not be used in change areas and toilets. Picture: Supplied

Mr Nassif said the data would be kept onshore at centres and the Montessori Academy headquarters.

Two possible systems have been tested and will soon be trialled in a number of centres before a national rollout in the next two months.

Mr Nassif said the system is just one safety measure in place, along with strict recruitment processes, a culture that promotes reporting incidents and continuous monitoring of staffs’ working with children checks and qualifications.

Melbourne mother Debbie Paterson, 44, sends her four-year-old son to a Montessori Academy centre.

She said safety is of paramount importance for her and she supports CCTV in her son’s centre.

“CCTV is a deterrent for the child abuse incidents we’ve been hearing about,” Ms Paterson said.

“It’s also a safer for everybody.

Montessori Academy predominantly operates in NSW.

“Everywhere you go there’s CCTV so I think we should have it in daycare too.

“It’s really important for not only the children, but also the staff so everyone can feel safe.”

The union representing childcare workers, United Workers Union (UWU), said investment in CCTV had to be paired with addressing understaffing in the industry.

“We respect the concerns of parents and families about the serious safety issues being raised in early childhood education and care,” UWU early education director Carolyn Smith said.

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Originally published as Montessori Academy to roll out AI-powered CCTV across its centres in NSW, Victoria and ACT