A senior police officer has called for a national database of childcare workers who have raised “red flags” but not been criminally prosecuted, to prevent them moving between centres to avoid scrutiny.
Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, head of the New South Wales police child sex abuse squad, told a government inquiry into early childhood education that such a register would allow centres to share intelligence about former employees facing serious allegations that did not result in charges. “At the end of the day, the offenders that we’ve actually charged, and a number of them are quite high profile, have never had a criminal history. They have a working with children check and that’s the issue,” she said.
The proposal goes further than a national register suggested by the federal education minister, Jason Clare, following horrifying allegations of sexual abuse at Melbourne daycares. A recent Guardian investigation found most childcare workers reported for abuse are allowed to continue working because police and regulators struggle to block them without a criminal conviction.
A 2023 review by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority noted many cases boil down to “a child’s word against an educator’s”, resulting in unsubstantiated claims and no further action. Howlett acknowledged legal and privacy concerns but insisted child safety must take precedence. “They’ll shop around. They’ll look for centres that aren’t doing the right thing, and that’s where they have the opportunity to offend,” she said.
The acting children’s guardian for NSW, Rachael Ward, backed a register similar to that used in the out-of-home care system, which flags employers to “contact me for further information”. Howlett also advised parents to report concerns directly to police, not to centre directors, who may downplay allegations out of “self-preservation”.
