A Wyndham Vale woman is leading a petition calling for a nationalised system for working with children’s checks (WWCC) and national inquiry into sexual abuse and maltreatment in childcare.
Laura-Jane Singh, herself a victim-survivor of sexual abuse at day care centre in New South Wales, said the recent childcare crisis was an opportunity to drive national change.
“I don’t know if it is positive in the traditional sense because this harm is devastating and very real,” she said.
“But what we are seeing is people talking more openly about what has been happening in institutions for years.
“If we can keep up the momentum, we can make systemic and legal change.”
The change outlined in the petition is a national harmonisation of legislation relating to WWCCs that would include cross-border information sharing.
More monitoring of WWCC holders who are subject to complaints and mandatory training to become a component of the check were also flagged as key needs.
For the training component, Ms Singh said the federal government needs to earmark $2 million in funding to an appropriate body to deliver it.
Ms Singh said sexual abuse is not something that is easy to overcome.
“I think institutional abuse is something you don’t simply move on from–even decades later, a sight, a smell and sound can remind you of it.
“It’s also about the betrayal of trust from the people who should be protected, it lingers.”
On August 15, attorney generals from across the country met in Canberra and agreed to work towards a national framework for issuing and monitoring WWCCs.
Star Weekly understands the aim will be to implement a mutual national recognition of negative WWCC decisions–including negative notices, suspensions and interim bars– by the end of 2025.
Federal attorney general Michelle Rowland said that the meeting was a positive step and working with states and territories to close gaps in the regulation of WWCCs.
“Together, all governments are working to ensure that protecting vulnerable Australians, particularly our children and young people, remains central to our reform efforts,” Ms Rowland said.
Petition: https://www.change.org/p/keep-kids-safe-overhaul-australia-s-early-childcare-industry
