Leading child protection organisation Act for Kids is alarmed and saddened by the ABC Four Corners’ investigation of the deplorable treatment of young children in some childcare centres.
“The report highlighted that systemic issues in the early childhood education and care sector have harmed the very children it is meant to care for,” Act for Kids CEO Dr Katrina Lines said.
“High quality, accessible and affordable early education is the cornerstone of healthy, thriving communities and is crucial to child development.
“We support strengthening the powers of the industry regulator and continue to emphasise growing calls for a nationally consistent Working with Children Check, which should include an annual police check.”
Act for Kids strongly believes the call for sector reform does not and should not tarnish the incredible work of the majority of childcare workers, who work extremely hard every day to care for children and provide the environment they need to thrive.
“Protecting children is everybody’s business and we all play a role in protecting kids and making sure they feel safe,” Dr Lines said.
“Act for Kids will continue to raise awareness of ways to identify the signs of child abuse and neglect, including emotional, behavioural, and physical changes.
“Some signs can be subtle or some children will not show any signs at all, which is why any concerns should be reported to police – no matter how trivial or small it may seem.”
For more information on how to identify abuse and neglect, visit here.
-ENDS-
Act for Kids media contact:
Melanie Whiting
0427 794 666
Melanie.whiting@actforkids.com.au