As a full-time working mum, I cannot express enough how grateful I am that my child is enrolled in an excellent council-run daycare. However, it deeply pains me to witness the numerous issues affecting other children. Our kids in childcare are defenceless and should not have to advocate for themselves.

Recent high-profile failures in Australia’s childcare system have exposed critical weaknesses in safety checks, incident reporting, and regulatory oversight.

• In 2023, a Brisbane childcare worker was charged with sexually abusing 91 children over 15 years despite holding valid working clearances.
• In Victoria, a childcare worker accused of inappropriate conduct continued working unsupervised for months, and families were not informed until the issue became public through media reporting.
• Independent reviews in New South Wales and Western Australia have revealed under-reporting of serious incidents, inconsistent enforcement of breaches, and gaps in national information-sharing.

These failures place children at risk and undermine the integrity of the entire sector.

It's imperative that we call on the Australian government to prioritize the overhaul of childcare safety regulations to protect our most vulnerable citizens—our children.

We therefore ask for the Australian government to initiate a national reform of childcare safety regulation. Specifically, we request:

(1) Nationally consistent and integrated background check systems; 

(2) Stronger unannounced inspections and enforcement mechanisms;

(3) Mandatory and timely parent notification of serious safety incidents;

(4) National tracking of educator misconduct and Centre compliance records; 

(5) Mandatory background checks for all childcare providers, increased training for staff on abuse prevention, and stringent penalties for facilities not adhering to safety standards;

(6)  Transparent reporting system in place, where concerns raised by parents and guardians are swiftly acted upon without fear of retribution. Ensuring clear communication channels between childcare centers and parents is essential for fostering trust and safety; and

(7) The establishment of an independent Childcare Safety and Integrity Commissioner to oversee these reforms.

 Let us come together as a community to ensure that every child has the right to a safe and nurturing environment while their parents are at work.

Please join me in demanding these necessary changes. Sign the petition to transform the safety standards in childcare across Australia, and protect our children from harm. Your signature is a vital step towards safeguarding our future generations.