As a provider of more than four hundred early childhood, education and care facilities in Australia, the Y is devastated by the recent media reports relating to child sexual abuse. Our thoughts are with the children, families and communities affected, and with the thousands of hardworking, dedicated staff who keep children safe every day.
The Y can confirm we have no record of those individuals named as having worked in our facilities.
These horrific events reinforce what we already know: child safety must be an uncompromising national priority.
Y Australia calls on the Federal Government and Prime Minister to commence national action in this space.
Any abuse of a child is unacceptable.
Y Australia wants to see the Federal Government
- Fully implement the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
- Pass national child safety legislation
- Implement a single national Working With Children Checks system
- Deliver consistent reportable conduct and mandatory reporting schemes.
These issues, along with recommendations for other practical policy changes, are included in our recent submission to the National Child Safety Review Regulatory Impact Analysis.
We hold ourselves to high standards of safeguarding and ensuring our practices keep children and young people safe. But like any provider, we are not immune, and we know we must remain vigilant, transparent, and prepared to confront the past and present with honesty and action.
Now is the time for coordinated, national action on this issue – because every child deserves to feel safe and be safe.