Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent discusses stricter safety measures in Australian childcare centres

Australia's introducing stricter measures across its childcare centres in efforts to better protect young children. 

CCTV cameras will be trialled at more than 300 centres - with work also commencing to develop a national register of childcare workers.

It follows child sexual abuse allegations surfacing against one Victoria worker.

Australia correspondent Oli Peterson told Heather du Plessis-Allan that some states have already banned personal mobile phones in centres. 

He says you've got to give the state and federal governments credit here for reacting to the situation and trying to beef up regulations as quickly as they could. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, following that huge controversy over the creep who's been
working in daycares in Victoria, Australia has just announced strict
new rules for childcare centers. ECE workers will have to
put their names on a database, they will have to
attend mandatory safety training, they will not be able to
use their cell phones at work, and CCTV cameras will
be placed in three hundred centers around the country. Oli
Pederson is the presenter for six PR Perth Live Over

(00:22):
in Perth with us right now.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hey, Oli, Hey, Heather.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
What's been the reaction to this.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
I think it's largely positive and I actually think probably
the best part of the announcement today is that there
will be inspections at these childcare centers which are unannounced,
So that really puts every childcare center in Australia on
notice that at any time the inspectors can arrive and
make sure that everything is what it should be. So
we've already seen some states jump, like where I am

(00:47):
in Western Australia. They followed the lead of Victoria and
South Australia in banning personal mobile phones in childcare centers
and by the end of the year it will become
a requirement. The Attorney's generals also working through this in
the States and with the Commonwealth government to roll out
closed circuit television networks, so they'll be security cameras put

(01:08):
in pretty much every child care. So look, from my
point of view, head, as you said those allegations made
by that absolute creepover in Victoria, I think the federal
government has done everything it could do, and I do
think the minister responsible for this, the Federal Education, mister
Jason Clare, he was very very strong on it this morning.
So I think that they've acted very quickly. You've got

(01:29):
to give the government and the state government's credit here
for obviously reacting to this situation and trying to beef
up the regulations as quickly as they possibly could.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
What putting their names on a database have stopped this
creep from being able to do what he did, well.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
That's a good question. I think it comes back to
these working with children checks, and I already know that
New South Wales has jumped a bit earlier on that.
So they want to try and obviously prevent individuals who
are seen as posing a risk the safety of children
from working in a child related and employment. But look,
I've had one of these. I've had a working with
children check as a junior cricket coach. It's really easy
to do. You walk into a post office, you get

(02:05):
a form, you feel it out, and it's done and
you never hear from them again. So will this database
actually mean that this wouldn't happen again? Probably not, let's
be blunt about it. But it will obviously raise a
red flag if a particular childcare worker shouldn't be in
that setting. So that when they go to obviously apply
for a job and they put your name into the
database and they say we can't employ a loiver Peterson,

(02:27):
well then they're not going to hopefully employ all of
a Peterson. But if you change your name or you
get some way of getting around one of these police checks,
then you know this situation could happen here.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Now, Ollie, you have said on the show that you
don't like dads or men rather working in daycare centers.
You find it weird. Does this make you feel better
about it?

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Not? Really like? And I know I might sound a
bit old fashioned saying that, but you know, even talking
with my friends, and I'm not I'm a young dad, right,
I've got a three year old and a seven year old.
You know that, but I just I find the idea.
I suppose a bit creepy that you know, another man
might be changing my son's nappy, for example, or wiping
his bottom. And I realize that sounds probably, you know,

(03:05):
straightaway sexist, and you're thinking, what are you talking about, Ollie?
Mums do it all the time. Why can't dads do it?
I just feel uncomfortable with it. And call me old fashioned,
that's fine, but I don't. I just don't. I just
don't know why men would want to work in childcare settings.
It just gives me the x. Ollie.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
What I love about you is you just so forthright
and you do not you do not hold back your opinion. Mate,
Thank you so much, really appreciate it. Olli Peterson six
PR Perth Live Present. I suppose if you're going to
be sexist, at least you be sexist against your own,
aren't you. For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drave, listen
live to news Talk sai'd Be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio