Calls for reform intensify as child safety concerns grow across major providers

This article discusses incidents involving child harm. Some readers may find the content distressing. Please consider your own wellbeing before continuing.

 

Leaders, educators and advocates across the early childhood education and care sector are calling for stronger safeguards, cultural reform and systemic accountability following a series of investigations into serious child safety incidents in services operated by large providers, including Affinity Education and Green Leaves Early Learning.

 

“We are gutted”: sector voices grief and frustration

 

The ABC’s 7.30 program aired confronting footage and disclosed more than 1,700 regulatory breaches across Affinity centres in New South Wales, sparking widespread concern and reflection across the early childhood profession.

 

Educators responded with sadness, anger and disbelief. “This is not who we are,” one post read. “It is sickening to see children treated like this and heartbreaking to know it happened under our banner.”

 

Another experienced sector advocate shared: “What needs to change? The exclusion of all corporate and private equity providers going forward.”

 

Public accountability and provider response

 

Affinity Education Group issued a statement reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy for child harm, outlining internal reforms and pledging to rebuild trust.

 

The provider said the educators involved were removed and the affected services have undergone leadership and governance changes.

 

While more than 90 per cent of Affinity’s services are currently rated as meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard (NQS), many sector professionals have questioned whether this justifies further growth by the provider.

 

“How can a provider continue expanding when so many of its current services are not compliant or are operating under waivers?” one educator asked. “We need to stop allowing non-compliant providers to expand while their existing services fail to meet standards.”

 

Peak bodies and unions call for deeper reform

 

Although many formal statements followed the earlier Four Corners investigation in March, the recent 7.30 report has reignited calls for structural change.

 

Advocacy groups continue to push for stronger enforcement powers for regulatory bodies, more transparent and timely reporting of serious breaches, and a nationally consistent approach to Working with Children Checks. They are also calling for much tighter restrictions on provider expansion, particularly in cases where there is a known history of compliance issues or serious incidents.

 

Union representatives and former educators featured in the ABC investigation described a culture of fear and under-reporting within some large for-profit providers.

 

Workforce concerns: “The sector is under strain”

 

Educators responding to the 7.30 report highlighted serious concerns around staffing models and training requirements.

 

“There needs to be a change in how many trainees can be employed in place of experienced educators,” one professional said. “The exploitation of younger workers is rife, particularly in the for-profit sector.”

 

Another pointed to the 2023 reforms to family day care, where educators must now hold a Certificate III qualification before commencing work.

 

“That standard should apply across the whole sector,” they said.

 

A tipping point for the profession

 

In private educator forums, the ABC investigation has sparked an outpouring of grief, anger and self-reflection. Many educators shared their disbelief at the footage, and their frustration that those responsible received what they viewed as minimal consequences.

 

One contributor asked why bans for individuals involved in serious incidents could be limited to just 12 months. Others called for permanent disqualification from the sector and stronger regulatory follow-up.

 

While views differed on whether for-profit models were the core issue, there was a clear message from many: the conditions that allow harm to occur need to change.

 

“There are so many layers to this,” one educator reflected. “Ratios, waivers, lack of support for new staff, pressure to fill places… it all adds up. When corners are cut, children get hurt.”

 

Another incident, same failures

 

Just days after the 7.30 report into Affinity, a second ABC segment revealed a separate serious incident, this time at a Green Leaves Early Learning centre in Port Macquarie.

 

A child suffered severe burns to his hand in a bottle-warming area not intended for children. Despite the obvious trauma, the centre did not call an ambulance. The family later drove through the night to access emergency care in Sydney.

 

The provider offered compensation on the condition the family sign a non-disclosure agreement. The parents refused. The educator involved was dismissed, and the centre fined $3,750.

 

Green Leaves under scrutiny

 

Further investigation revealed a pattern of non-compliance across Green Leaves services, including inappropriate discipline, supervision failures, inaccurate record keeping and ratio breaches. Yet many of these were met with only warnings, issued by the state-based regulatory authority.

 

Despite this, Green Leaves has opened 14 new centres since early 2023. Eleven of its 67 services have never been rated under the NQS, and several are currently rated as “working towards”.

 

As one expert put it: “We know who the providers are. Why let them continue?”

 

More voices are now calling for stronger enforcement, a national early learning commission, and tighter limits on provider growth when compliance issues persist.

 

What comes next?

 

There is growing pressure on governments at all levels to act, and to act decisively. Sector stakeholders are urging a review of how large providers are approved to expand, tougher penalties for serious breaches, stronger protections for educators who report misconduct, and deeper investment in long-term workforce development.

 

The NSW Government has launched a parliamentary inquiry, and broader reforms are under discussion across jurisdictions.

 

What remains clear is that the trust between families and the sector has been shaken. But for the thousands of educators doing the right thing every day, one message is clear. The system must catch up with the standards they strive to uphold.

 

“We’ve been raising the alarm for years,” one educator said. “Now the rest of the country is finally listening.”

 

Need support?

 

If this story has raised concerns for you, contact:

 

• National Child Abuse Helpline (Bravehearts): 1800 272 831
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
• Lifeline: 13 11 14