UNICEF Australia Statement on Harm in Childcare Settings

Yesterday, more horrific news broke of abuse in early childhood education and care services through an ABC Four Corners investigation. UNICEF Australia stands with families and children affected, no child should experience harm in a place that is meant to nurture and protect them.

It is shocking that nearly 150 childcare workers have been convicted, charged, or accused of sexual abuse or misconduct, with half of the convictions occurring in the past five years alone. The true number of perpetrators may be much higher, and they are unfortunately enabled by ongoing systemic failures. UNICEF Australia is deeply concerned by these reports and the anguish these incidents have caused. Every child across Australia has the right to be safe, protected, and free from maltreatment, harm and neglect.

Access to high-quality early childhood education and care is fundamental to children’s health, wellbeing, and lifelong outcomes. Evidence shows that quality early education sets children up for success later in life. Australia has made commendable progress in improving affordability and accessibility to early education. However, this progress will be undermined if childcare settings are not safe spaces where children are protected from harm.

Child safety must be the priority permeating every aspect of the childcare sector for any measure to be effective. The Four Corners investigation raised serious concerns that demand urgent attention. UNICEF Australia continues to call for:

A National Early Years Commission - A dedicated body to monitor child safety across all early childhood education and care services in Australia. This recommendation has been made by the Productivity Commission (2024), the recent Victorian childcare review, and is widely supported across the sector.
A nationally consistent regulatory framework - Unified standards across all states and territories for compliance, enforcement, and reporting will improve transparency and enable better data sharing between jurisdictions and regulatory agencies. 
Implementing reportable conduct standards for all early education and care providers.
Improving workforce conditions to attract and retain qualified, fairly paid, and well-supported educators.
Supporting quality for every child across all service types.

When it comes to children's safety, we must have the highest possible standards of protection - children cannot afford for us to cut corners or take easy options. Comprehensive and nationally consistent reforms are essential. Safety is the right of every child, no matter where they live and every Australian family deserves the same confidence that their child will be safe in childcare.

UNICEF Australia welcomes further examination of approaches that strengthen and consistently apply child safeguarding in childcare settings. Many ECEC services across Australia are already meeting and exceeding quality standards, driven by skilled leaders and educators. We must learn from these examples to address the troubling issues highlighted in the report.

We urge that these reports be taken seriously. Every Australian child deserves to grow up safe, free from harm, and supported by early education and care that empowers them to thrive.

Tuesday, 28 October 2025