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Victoria Childcare Abuse Allegations Surge as Watchdog Says It Can’t Oversee Most Cases

New figures expose widespread harm in early education, underscoring stalled child‑safety reforms.

Overview

  • The CCYP’s 2024–25 report records 705 incident reports from early childhood services containing 967 allegations, including 627 of physical violence, 78 of sexual misconduct and 27 of sexual offences.
  • Notifications to the scheme have risen 178 percent since inception, and the commission says most 2024–25 investigations proceeded with minimal oversight as resources were shifted to the highest‑risk cases.
  • Early childhood reports made up nearly a third of the 2,232 notifications received across all sectors, with about 30 percent of allegations substantiated and sharp rises in substantiated sexual offence and misconduct findings.
  • Four out of five early childhood reports involved educators not registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, and most cases occurred in long day care settings.
  • The Victorian government has introduced legislation to create an independent childcare regulator but delayed other promised laws this week, as separate inquiries and a Four Corners investigation highlight dark‑web grooming tactics and risks linked to heavy reliance on casual staff.