Call for national child check processes after horror abuse allegations

The NSW government has joined childcare advocates pushing for a more national approach to working with children’s checks after man charged with more than 90 child sex assaults.

The Minns government has called for an urgent meeting of state and federal ministers to demand better sharing of child protection data across jurisdictions in response to allegations more than 90 children were sexually assaulted across NSW and Queensland childcare centres by a childcare worker.

Speaking to parliament on Wednesday, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government will review which oversights could be strengthened in both the education and early childhood sectors.

“We will be talking to colleagues in the independent and Catholic sectors to ensure there are no ways for offenders to jump between the public and non-government sector,” he said.

“We can’t as a government sit back and do nothing. We know our system in New South Wales is strong, but I want to reassure the community we are taking steps to look at any gaps in our system and our regulations to strengthen child protection in this state.”

Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington has begun conversations with her state and federal counterparts about ensuring safe and transparent data sharing across borders and state agencies.

Leading national child care advocates and government agencies have called for a national strategy to streamline child protective services in the wake of allegations a childcare worker abused over 90 children while working across centres in NSW and Queensland.

It came after leading national child care advocates and government agencies called for a national strategy to streamline child protective services in the wake of the arrest of a childcare worker who allegedly abused over 90 children while working across centres in NSW and Queensland.

Child welfare advocates say Working With Children’s checks (WWCC) need to be consistent across state borders. Under current legislation a WWCC only needs to be renewed every five years in NSW and every three years in Queensland.

While the process involves a national criminal history check, perpetrators can fly under the radar if they have no prior criminal convictions.

The Daily Telegraph understands no red flags had been raised from any previous WWC checks completed in NSW by the Gold Coast man. According to the AFP the man had all the required qualifications to work at a childcare centre.

Child protection body Bravehearts chief executive Alison Geale said she had seen too many instances in the past where there was not adequate reporting between states when it came to Working With Children’s checks.

“You’re applying the same kind of driver’s licence approach to the process,” she said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: Adam Yip

“There needs to be a national approach with one system and part of that needs to be rigorous training.”

NSW Children’s Guardian Steve Kinmond who is responsible for the department in charge of WWCC agreed there needed to be a strong and consistent screening system across the country in connection to those who work with children.

“Fast and efficient sharing of information is also vital so that a record in one jurisdiction can be quickly shared with other jurisdictions,” he said.

Mr Kinmond said his office had been working on a proposal to enhance information shared by the National Reference System run by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

“We can’t rest until we are absolutely confident we have the best systems in place across the country to promote the safety of children,” he said.

NSW Children’s Guardian Steve Kinmond agreed there needed to be a strong and consistent screening system across the system across the country.

Community Early Learning Australia chief executive Michele Carnegie agreed it was imperative staff regularly refresh their child protection qualifications.

“It’s about early education services keeping strong policies so all staff know how to act in relation to child protection issues,” she said.

“Every service needs to make sure that child protection qualifications are refreshed annually, which is currently a recommendation not a rule.

“There is nothing more important than ensuring the safety of children and the early childhood sector is constantly engaged in work to improve practice and reduce risks.”

Premier Chris Minns said the “horrific” allegations meant looking at how to prevent similar events in the future.

“Reports like this force us as a community to reflect on how these things can happen and how as a society we can work to prevent them from ever happening again,” he said.

Federal Early Childhood Minister Dr Anne Aly said the government was working with all Australian jurisdictions to combat child abuse and were waiting to receive the findings of an interim report of child safety arrangements due in October.

“These are shocking allegations which will cause significant concern in the community,” she said.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said it was critical processes ensured children remained safe. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton said it was critical that processes ensured children remained safe.

“It’s hard to comprehend the depravity of what’s been uncovered by our law enforcement agencies in this sickening case,” he said.

“There’s obviously a legal process to get underway, but the critical thing is our children remain safe and their innocence is protected.”

NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman said child abuse had been “endemic” in the state, as evidenced in a Royal Commission held in 2013.

“You can’t think of a worse crime than child abuse. It is sadly … something that’s been endemic for decades in New South Wales as we saw with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses,” he said.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley commended the work done by the AFP, NSW Police and Queensland Police in the joint task force.

“I am shocked, saddened and disgusted to hear of the horrific allegations arising from Operation Tenterfield,” she said.

“The numerous charges are almost incomprehensible.”

Originally published as Call for national child check processes after horror abuse allegations