AG vows ‘action’ on national working with children’s check system after shock allegations of abuse

The Federal Government is vowing “action” to overhaul Australia’s beleaguered childcare system following allegations of abuse at a Melbourne childcare centre.

The Federal Government’s top lawyer is vowing “action” on a national Working With Children check system following allegations of sexual abuse at a Melbourne childcare centre.

Earlier this month, Victoria Police revealed it charged Joshua Dale Brown, 26, with more than 70 offences, including child rape and possession of child abuse material.

He was a worker at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook and had a working with children check.

The alleged abuse has stoked outrage, prompting Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to respond by saying a national system was the “first item on the agenda” when she meets with state and territory counterparts.

Alleged pedophile Joshua Brown was a worker at the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook. Picture: Supplied

“This is something we are actively doing now,” she told Sky News on Sunday.

“I’ve been in direct contact with my counterparts … engaging with them about the need to have reform in this area.”

Ms Rowland said many would be “shocked” to learn this was actually a recommendation coming out of a 2015 series of responses on the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse.

“We’re now in 2025. What is important here is that we have action,” Mr Rowland said.

“The federal government has not been idle.

“We have been undertaking work to ensure that we do have some mechanisms that are in place.”

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland says a national working with children check system is ‘the first item on the agenda’. Picture: Nikki Short / NewsWire

Currently, Working With Children checks take place at a state and territory level.

States and territories do not need to talk to each other about their processes or violations and there is no federal oversight.

Ms Rowland said was working “to ensure that we have a solution that allows near real time reporting, access to data, making sure that we’ve got consistency and uniformity”.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Jason Clare has pledged to introduce legislation that would let Canberra cut federal funds to childcare centres that “aren’t up to scratch” on children’s safety.

He has said funding was one big lever the federal government could pull.

Parliament will resume next week for the first time since the federal election.

Originally published as AG vows ‘action’ on national working with children’s check system after shock allegations of abuse