Victorian childcare centres will be required to adopt a ban on personal devices by Friday 26 September as part of an urgent review into childcare safety in the State.
Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan announced the ban today in the wake of Melbourne childcare worker, Joshua Brown, being charged with more than 70 child sexual abuses charges.
The Premier said childcare centres who don’t comply will have a ban imposed on them as a condition of license and may face fines of up to $50,000.
“We will also commission an urgent review into childcare safety in Victoria,” said Ms Allan.
She said the Government will announce who will lead the review by the end of the week.
“This short and sharp review will be focused on immediate actions we can take, based on work from the Commonwealth and other states and territories reviews.”
The Premier said the review will examine options for installing CCTV in childcare centres to better protect children.
“It will also look at the national framework for childcare to see if we can go further, and act faster, on any of the measures currently being considered at a national level,” she said.
The review will report back to the Government on Friday 15 August.
“We will adopt every recommendation of the review and implement them as quickly as possible.”
“Following yesterday, I know too many families are suffering unbearable pain and uncertainty. I cannot imagine what they are going through. But I know this is the type of news that turns normal life completely upside down. That’s why affected families will be eligible for a $5,000 Immediate Needs Payment.”
The payments will be made available to families whose children are referred for precautionary health testing.
“It will support parents and carers to take time off work, help them find other care arrangements, and cover the cost of any medical or mental health appointments.”
“It is some practical help at an impossibly difficult time.
“There has been a high volume of calls to the hotline, and I thank everyone for their patience during what is obviously an immensely distressing experience.
“Dedicated nurses and public health officials are working around the clock to give families the answers they need,” she said.
