Employers urged to review recruitment and oversight practices following sector allegations

In the wake of ongoing investigations and public scrutiny, early childhood employers are being urged to urgently assess their recruitment, supervision, and compliance frameworks to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in their care.

The call follows national concern surrounding alleged failures in screening and oversight that may have contributed to serious breaches in duty of care. As reported by HR Leader “Child care employers on notice to review their hiring and supervisory processes”, July 2025, recent allegations have revealed significant gaps in current systems used to assess educator suitability and monitor ongoing conduct.

In light of these developments, workplace and safety experts are encouraging approved providers to examine not only their pre-employment procedures but also the mechanisms used to supervise staff once employed particularly in environments where children are vulnerable.

Key risk areas include:

• Over-reliance on Working with Children Checks as standalone safeguards
• Inadequate probation and supervision processes
• Informal or inconsistent performance reviews
• Failure to escalate or act on concerns raised by staff or families

Legal experts cited by HR Leader warn that organisations may be exposed to liability if appropriate due diligence and monitoring are not demonstrably in place.

Under the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, providers must take all reasonable steps to ensure the protection of children from harm and hazards including Regulation 168 and Section 167 of the National Law.

This includes implementing systems for managing risk, conducting fit-and-proper assessments, and embedding ongoing staff performance management practices.

Workplace specialists are also highlighting the value of trauma-informed leadership and child-safe organisational cultures as central to effective safeguarding not just policy compliance.

“Paperwork alone does not make a service safe,” one legal adviser noted in the original report. “It’s about leadership, vigilance and the culture you create.”

The current environment has amplified calls for greater consistency and transparency in educator screening across jurisdictions.

Providers are encouraged to undertake proactive audits of their HR systems, ensure staff are adequately supported and supervised, and create safe avenues for whistleblowing and reporting concerns.

For services seeking support, the National Child Safe Principles, developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission, provide a valuable framework for assessing organisational risk and improving child safety practice.

As scrutiny grows, the message is clear: protecting children in early education settings requires more than compliance. It demands a culture of care, accountability, and ongoing professional reflection.

This article references original reporting by HR Leader, published July 2025.