Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Ministers statements: early childhood education and care

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:09): Nothing we do in this place is more important than protecting children. That is our first duty and our greatest responsibility, and it must guide every decision that we make. The allegations, as revealed by Victoria Police a few weeks ago, are sickening, and they demand nothing less than urgent and decisive action. Parents around the state – around the country – must be able to leave their children in the care of others without fear, and I will do everything in my power to make sure they can. That is why we have commissioned an urgent review into early childhood education and the working with children check. That review will report on 15 August, and we will adopt every recommendation and implement them as quickly as possible.

But we are not waiting for this report to act. We have already moved to establish a Victorian register of early childhood educators, capturing more than 90 per cent of staff in long day care settings and in kindergartens. The register will track employment history and patterns and link to a national system once established. But I will make it clear: we are not waiting for that national system to be established; we are moving immediately. And we are bringing forward a ban on personal devices in childcare centres to take effect on Friday 26 September. Centres who fail to comply with this requirement will face fines of up to $50,000.

It is important that I finish by thanking the early childhood educators who continue to care every day for our children with dedication and kindness. The actions of one individual do not reflect the many educators and staff who show up every day caring and going above and beyond for our children, and it is important that we remember and thank those workers.