Jay Weatherill appointed to co-lead urgent review into childcare safety in Victoria

Former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill will co-lead an independent review into early childhood education and care (ECEC) safety in Victoria, following deeply distressing allegations of child sexual abuse involving a former early childhood educator.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced the “short and sharp” review in response to charges laid against a 26-year-old Melbourne man, who allegedly committed serious offences while working across 20 early learning centres since 2017. In announcing the review, Premier Allan said, “Victorians are horrified by these allegations. My Government will take every action possible as soon as possible to strengthen safety standards in early childhood education and care, to keep Victorian children safe.”

The review will be jointly led by Mr Weatherill and Pamela White, a respected Victorian public sector leader with more than three decades’ experience in education and child safety. Mr Weatherill, who served as South Australian premier from 2011 to 2018, is also the current Executive Director of Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five initiative.

The review will examine regulatory, procedural and systemic safeguards in the ECEC sector, with specific attention given to the use of CCTV, workforce checks, reporting systems and the potential establishment of a dedicated Victorian register. A ban on personal mobile devices in early childhood settings is also being introduced, taking effect from 26 September, with significant penalties for non-compliance.

The deadline for the review’s final report is 15 August 2025. The Victorian Government has committed to adopting all recommendations made.

Premier Allan said the review would prioritise actionable reforms: “This work is about immediate change and practical steps we can take right now to better protect children.”

The ECEC sector is now awaiting the outcomes of the review with cautious optimism. Educators, service leaders and providers across both metropolitan and regional settings are calling for practical, well-resourced solutions that strengthen safety while recognising the complex environments in which services operate. 

Sector stakeholders have expressed hope that the review will result in recommendations that not only enhance regulatory compliance, but also support the workforce with meaningful guidance, clear communication protocols, and a focus on sustaining the trusted relationships at the heart of early learning.