Moves by Education Ministers to strengthen the safety of children in early education and care have been welcomed with caution by the peak national body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children CEO Catherine Liddle said reforms to increase child safety in the early education system must go deeper than just regulatory changes.
“We look forward to working with all Governments to ensure all children are safe in all care settings,” Ms Liddle said.
“Efforts to strengthen safety must include serious examination of the systemic failings that have created the current environment where children have not been safe.
“We must be looking at issues around workforce and training, inequitable and difficult access to services and a funding model that incentivises profit over care.
“The vast majority of early education workers are dedicated professionals who know what changes are needed and they go beyond regulatory reform to fundamental system change if children are to be safe and thrive.
“Governments need to be looking towards the unique expertise and supporting the needs of the services and workers that do it best.”
“As the Federal Education Minister has said, cameras can’t do everything. Our members are concerned CCTV gives parents a false sense of safety and risks being an expensive and ultimately largely ineffectual tool.”
Current reviews and responses demonstrate the need for a national body to oversee strong and co-ordinated action, to assure parents and carers their children will be safe and drive systemic reform.
The Productivity Commission’s 2024 review recommended establishing an independent National ECEC Commission to act as a system steward and oversee reform and provide national leadership.
“SNAICC supports the calls by many in the early education for a National Early Childhood Education and Care Commission, informed by the sector, families and workforce, that accommodates the unique needs of Aboriginal community-controlled ECEC services.
“We stand ready to work with Government to drive these reforms to ensure they have the best outcomes for our children and our services.”
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