Lax rules and rise in for-profit childcare allow predators to abuse children, NSW inquiry finds

Systemic weaknesses in New South Wales’ childcare sector have allowed predators to work in the industry and abuse children, a scathing inquiry has found. In its final report, published on Wednesday, a NSW upper house inquiry into the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector found “the proliferation of for-profit services and a lax regulatory approach” had led to “predators” being allowed to work in childcare and abuse children. The report said operators backed by private equity have “no place” in the sector, and that the state’s regulator for early education had “failed to respond appropriately” to services with “extensive histories of non-compliance, breaches, safety incidents and persistently poor ratings”. In her foreword, the chair, the upper house Greens MLC, Abigail Boyd , said the sector was “in crisis”. “While the sector is entrusted with the safety, wellbeing and development of our youngest children, the evidence before this committee revealed a system under profound strain – one that is failing too many children, families and educators,” she wrote. The inquiry was established in March last year, and held public hearings between August and October. The hearings came amid growing concerns nationally about the industry after reporting by the ABC’s Four Corners. …