Increasing early childhood educators is important for children’s safety. But we shouldn’t focus on numbers alone
On Monday night an ABC Four Corners episode on child safety in child care services depicted some disturbing CCTV footage. Videos showed an educator at a service in remote Queensland grabbing a baby by his head and neck, holding his face into a pillow and even kicking him. The ABC reported the incidents occurred over three days in late August and early September in 2024. In the footage, the educator appeared to be the only adult in the room. The public release of the videos comes a year and a half after shocking child abuse scandals rocked the sector. In response, state and federal governments have been working to increase protections for children in early childhood services. This has included addressing how educators supervise children. So what might help to improve child safety further? Since February, new laws mean children’s safety, rights and best interests must take priority over…
