AFP and NSW Police notify more than 1,000 Sydney families following OOSH educator arrest

This article contains references to child sexual abuse, grooming and mandatory reporting, which may be distressing to some readers. Please take care when reading and seek support if needed.

More than 1,000 families across Sydney’s northern suburbs and CBD have been contacted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and NSW Police following the October 2024 arrest of a former out-of-school-hours (OOSH) educator. The individual’s identity remains suppressed under a non-publication order.

Letters were distributed to families whose children may have had contact with the accused regardless of whether direct involvement was identified. The communication included contact details for support services and guidance from local health providers.

NSW Health, the Office of the Children’s Guardian and other state agencies have been involved in the response, in line with protocols set by the Joint Child Protection Response Program and the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The coordinated response reinforces the importance of clear internal protocols across early childhood and OOSH services to address serious allegations swiftly, sensitively and in compliance with regulation.

From September 2025, all early childhood education and care (ECEC) services will be required to report serious incidents within 24 hours, reducing the current seven-day window. Stricter consent protocols and new standards for the use of images and CCTV will also come into effect.

In January 2026, “Child Safety” will become a standalone quality area within the National Quality Standard (NQS), further embedding its significance across service operations and assessment.

Operational guidance for early learning services

• Review communication protocols to ensure timely, compassionate engagement with families when serious matters arise.
• Strengthen policy frameworks around recruitment, monitoring, reporting and risk management.
• Support families and staff by collaborating with local services during and after incidents.
• Build capacity through training on disclosures, trauma-informed responses and media engagement.
• Conduct regular readiness audits to test your team’s capacity to respond quickly and within regulatory guidelines.
• Develop and test critical incident response plans, ensuring all staff understand their roles and responsibilities when serious allegations or emergencies arise.

The scale of the current investigation highlights the complexity and sensitivity of responding to serious allegations in educational settings. The multi-agency coordination demonstrates an approach focused on procedural consistency, inter-agency cooperation and community communication.

For early childhood services, these events highlight the need for clear and reliable operational procedures of having robust, well-understood protocols in place. Clear operational planning and preparedness may assist services in managing serious incidents in a way that supports regulatory compliance and maintains trust with families and communities.

This article is informed by public reporting and official statements from the AFP, NSW Police, and relevant agencies. Information has been summarised in accordance with fair reporting principles. The content is independently produced and editorially distinct from any government or agency publication.

If this article has raised concerns or distress, support is available here:

• Bravehearts – 1800 272 831 or bravehearts.org.au
• 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au
• Lifeline – 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au