Educators highlight child safety ‘red flags’ for families navigating early learning choices

Educators across Australia are urging parents to remain vigilant when selecting early learning services, sharing key signs that may indicate risks to child safety and quality of care, particularly in the wake of recent abuse allegations at several centres.

Reports of serious breaches in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland have prompted federal and state governments to review regulatory frameworks and implement further reforms. For many parents, however, daily drop-offs have become fraught with concern.

Educator and assistant director Arianne (surname withheld) said staffing consistency, transparency and rigorous hiring practices are non-negotiable for building trust.

“If I was a parent, I’d be making sure that all rooms were completely open,” she said. “How is the turnover of staff? Do the fees that you pay go back into your centre? Just ask loads and loads of questions.”

One of the most commonly cited concerns among educators is the use of the “under the roof” ratio, a legal provision under the National Quality Framework that allows centres to calculate staffing based on the total number of educators on site, rather than by individual rooms.

A United Workers Union survey of 2,100 early childhood educators found 83 per cent of respondents had experienced the use of this loophole, which may contribute to under-supervision and inconsistency in care.

Samantha, an educator who previously worked at services using this model, said the approach often left rooms short-staffed, particularly in high-needs areas such as infant care.

“Even if we met the minimum ratio of two educators for eight babies, it didn’t feel like best practice,” she said.

Affinity Education Group, which operates more than 250 centres nationwide and has been linked to several of the recent incidents, confirmed it uses “under the roof” ratios, but said it generally exceeds required staffing levels and is working to strengthen safety and compliance measures.

Jane Zarfati, owner and director of Jane’s Place Early Learning Centre in central Sydney, said responsible providers go well beyond the minimum standards required under law.

“We never leave one staff member alone with a child,” Ms Zarfati said. “Our supervision strategies, thorough staff vetting, and CCTV systems are in place to give families peace of mind.”

She stressed that while Working with Children Checks are essential, so too are police checks, qualification verification and day-to-day oversight.

“Sometimes those checks aren’t done thoroughly and regulators don’t always have the resourcing to catch what’s been missed,” she added.

Liddy Korner, CEO of casual educator agency Talent Now, recommended families ask specific questions when enrolling in a service, such as:

• How often are staff replaced?
• Are educators permanent, or mostly casual?
• Does the service exceed minimum staff-to-child ratios?

She encouraged families to look for centres that prioritise continuity, qualifications and robust internal systems.

“Even with babies, the standard one-to-four ratio should be exceeded where possible,” Ms Korner said. “There should always be a minimum of two educators in any room.

Federal Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh acknowledged the concerns raised by educators and said safety must remain central to sector reform.

“It’s concerning that some educators suggest providers are not meeting required ratios,” she said. “Those standards are vital for keeping children safe and providing quality early education.”

The federal government has proposed legislation to cut Child Care Subsidy (CCS) funding to providers that consistently breach safety standards. It is also convening a national meeting of education ministers to explore a nationwide educator register and other integrity measures.

In the meantime, educators are calling for stronger enforcement, not just reform.

“Checks and balances only work if they’re followed,” said Ms Zarfati. “Parents shouldn’t have to feel anxious leaving their child at care but until the system is strengthened, asking the right questions is key.”

To read the original coverage of this story, as produced by the ABC, please see here.