The Algorithm Age

Recent cases of prolific alleged child sexual abuse in Melbourne and other Australian early childhood education and care settings have shocked even experienced people who work to prevent child sexual abuse. Parents are right to be outraged, scared and uncertain. The most pressing issue, then, is what we do about it. Regulation and practice is still falling short, despite all our knowledge and prior recommendations. We have the benefit of the gold-standard Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (including Volume 6 on making institutions child-safe). We can also draw on rigorous scientific work about how best to prevent child sexual abuse in child and youth-serving organisations. Criminal history checks are essential, but many offenders will not have a criminal record. These checks are only one part of an entire safety system. Other measures are arguably even more important. The federal government, together with states and territories,...

A string of sexual abuse allegations against a childcare worker in Melbourne have brought regulation of the early childhood sector back into the national conversation. Advocates for children's rights and prevention of abuse say oversight of the system is flawed, and that robust federal intervention is needed to ensure the safety of society's youngest while in care. The Victorian government has announced it will fast-track reforms into the childcare sector and has commissioned an urgent review to be turned around in about six weeks. Nationally, the system for regulating early childhood education and care falls to an independent statutory authority, but there is neither a ministry nor a regulator dedicated to it. Here's what we know about the regulatory framework as it currently stands. What are the rules for child safety in childcare centres? Victoria's early childhood sector is regulated under a combination of Commonwealth and s...

Domestic violence laws have become stronger in Queensland from Monday, with coercive control made a criminal offence. The change comes after Hannah’s Law – named after Brisbane mother Hannah Clarke, who was killed alongside her children by her partner – was passed in parliament in March last year. The offence – which includes controlling, physical and non-physical forms of domestic and family violence, such as financial abuse and verbal abuse – can now attract a maximum penalty of 14 years’ jail time. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said she hoped to see an increase in family and domestic violence charges with the new laws in effect, with more offenders picked up before abuse turned lethal. “We have seen the loss of too many lives. One death is too many,” she said. “The tragic loss of Hannah Clarke and her three beautiful children – that is four deaths too many.” Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm said ...