Victorian Childcare Abuse Allegations Rise 32% to 705 in 2024-25

Victoria's childcare sector has seen a significant surge in allegations of child abuse, with over 700 reports in the 2024-25 financial year alone, marking a 32% increase from the previous year and an 84% rise over three years. The Commission for Children and Young People's annual report revealed 627 claims of physical violence, 78 of sexual misconduct, and 27 of sexual offences among these allegations, predominantly involving early childhood educators not registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. Sexual offence allegations have notably increased in substantiation rates, rising from 15% in 2018-19 to 51% in 2024-25, indicating a greater proportion of these claims being verified. This crisis in childcare safety was highlighted by high-profile cases, including Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, charged with abusing eight children, and similar cases in Canberra, where parents were often left uninformed about educators facing abuse allegations. The report underscores ongoing challenges in protecting children, with calls for more robust measures to prevent abuse and improve transparency with families. Officials acknowledge that despite mandatory reporting laws and increased notifications, child abuse remains a critical issue requiring urgent and sustained action across Victorian childcare institutions.