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Child safety

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Alleged Melbourne paedophile Joshua Brown worked at more than 20 childcare centres operated by G8 and Affinity.

Staff accuse childcare chains of ‘culture of cover-ups’

A trove of internal documents uncovered by this masthead reveal childcare giant Affinity instructs its staff to consider reputation damage before notifying police about child safety allegations.

  • Sherryn Groch and Carla Jaeger

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Joshua Brown is alleged to have abused eight children who attended the Creative Garden Early Learning centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.

The secret complaint and leaked files from childcare chains where alleged paedophile worked

A complaint about educators left alone with children at the centre where Joshua Brown is accused of child abuse is among a trove of documents leaked to this masthead.

  • Sherryn Groch and Carla Jaeger
Taped mouths childcare composite

Sydney childcare centre censured for taping toddlers’ mouths shut

A north shore childcare centre has received a formal warning after educators taped toddlers’ mouths shut as part of a “breathing exercise”.

  • Emily Kowal
Ride-share drivers are not required to have working with children checks.

Teacher suspended over sexual misconduct allegations working as ride-share driver

Taxi and ride-share drivers in Victoria are subject to police and background checks, but only those who regularly transport children may also be required to hold a working with children check.

  • Madeleine Heffernan
Commissioner, Paul Anastassiou KC is seen during the official opening of the Commission of Inquiry into the Child Safety System at the Brisbane Magistrates Court in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Queensland’s child safety system is ‘broken’. This body is tasked with fixing it

A 17-month inquiry, which began on Wednesday, will investigate failures in the institutions and processes that exist to protect our young.

  • William Davis
Education Minister Ben Carroll says children’s commissioner role must be filled urgently.

Pressure grows on Labor for answers on childcare safety crisis

Criticism is mounting over critical role left vacant and unheeded warnings that children were in danger.

  • Noel Towell
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Elon Musk’s X has dismissed take down orders from Australia’s eSafety commissioner.

‘MechaHitler’: Why Elon Musk’s chatbot is at the centre of an Australian legal dispute

Elon Musk’s X and Australia’s online safety watchdog are back in court. Here’s what to know.

  • David Swan
Recent news has left many Australians questioning their child’s safety in early education settings, as the sector and governments scramble to address concerns.

How do you choose a safe childcare centre?

One mum toured 11 facilities, another opted to “stay and play”. Both wanted to ensure their child’s safety in a system that now seems broken.

  • Courtney Kruk
Illustration: Monique Westermann

Childcare horrors are shocking, but they’re no surprise to me

I’ve been investigating the childcare industry for almost a year. Now, Australia’s children deserve no less than a royal commission or independent inquiry.

  • Adele Ferguson
The charges against childcare worker Joshua Brown, 26, were revealed on Tuesday after a suppression order was lifted.

Inside the life of alleged Melbourne childcare rapist Joshua Brown

A decade before he was accused of child abuse, Joshua Brown was studying childcare in high school to fast-track his path into a job just weeks after graduating.

  • Sherryn Groch and Carla Jaeger

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/child-safety-hr8