The Facts
The essential parent guide to choosing safe child care near me
My name is Jane*, and I’ve experienced firsthand the devastation of failing to protect my child. Like many parents, I entrusted my child to child care near me, unaware of the potential risks lurking behind closed doors.
Entrusting my child to child care near me me seemed safe until they came home with unexplained genital injuries and distressing stories of mistreatment.
Three other children from that centre filed police reports, one of whom came home from the same daycare and bled significantly after bathing. Hospital examinations found no explanation for the bleeding but found marks suggestive of injury. This parent also did not commence investigations until over a week later, so critical forensic evidence was lost.
My child has a letter from the psychologist stating that his statements have clear and specific disclosures of a strong sexual nature and this is consistent with his response and presentation in therapy. The psychologist also explicitly expressed concern about disclosures, reports, and statements of children that have not been deemed credible by authorities, leaving children and families suffering ongoing trauma and potential public safety risks.
Sadly, my story is not unique. Multiple children, including mine, made allegations of harm and sexual abuse at the same daycare centre near me. It’s a painful reality that we, as parents, often overlook until it’s too late.
I presented the psychologist’s letter to the police on the day the detective met with me to inform me that they had closed the investigation. The detective closed the case and filed it with ‘no offence detected’. He further stated that ‘the information gathered throughout the investigation would strongly suggest no offence occurred’.
My ignorance left my son vulnerable, and I failed to act swiftly enough to collect critical forensic evidence. So, I’ve created a guide for parents, detailing daycare risks and how to choose a daycare centre, protect your child, prepare and respond. Its the ultimate guide for how to prevent sexual abuse in children.
Had I known the reality of the risks, I would have chosen facilities with surveillance cameras, training for parents carers, and children and immediately presented to the hospitals specialist child sexual abuse services and/or sought support from organisations like 1800 RESPECT or 1800 BRAVEHEARTS.
We all share the same desire: to shield our children from harm. Yet, the statistics are sobering. Reports reveal that a staggering 1 in 10 men self-report committing sexual offences against children (Australian Human Rights Institute November 2023). Shockingly, a significant percentage of female-perpetrated child sexual abuse occurs within organisational settings, such as daycare centres (Child Wise, 2006).
Take a few minutes to read this guide; to sign the petition, donate and join the google review movement. It could be the difference between protecting your child’s innocence and facing the heartbreak of realising you didn’t do enough.
*name changed to protect privacy
Sincerely,Jane*
This Petition will be sent to:
- Hon. Paul Papalia CSC, MLA,
Minister for Police; Corrective Services; Defence Industry; Veterans Issues - Hon. Sabine Winton BA BPS MLA,
Minister for Early Childhood Education; Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services - Ms Elizabeth (Libby) Mettam MLA,
Leader of the WA Liberal Party; Shadow Minister for Health; Mental Health; Disability Services; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Child Protection - Hon Dr Anne Aly MP
Minister for Early Childhood Education; Minister for Youth
Appeal Letters
To:
The Minister for Early Childhood Education; Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services
Australian daycare centre sexual abuse incidents are alarming. The Ashley Griffith case of over 1600 cases (when two confirmed unsubstantiated police reports were made) and the 4 unresolved allegations of abuse at a daycare centre in Perth highlight how pertinent it is to protect these children.
Pre-verbal children are vulnerable, voiceless and unable to provide evidence that leads to convictions and thus deserve greater protection.
We need robust protocols established for handling suspected cases of sexual abuse, similar to those implemented by schools and other institutions scrutinised by the Royal Commission on Institutional Abuse, Disability, and Aged Care.
We urge lawmakers and relevant authorities to take immediate action towards implementing stringent reforms in all daycare centres across the country.
What the community is demanding:
- A nationwide system to track sexual abuse allegations in daycares
- Daycare facilities adhere to the same standards of transparency and accountability as schools.
- Daycare centres adopt more stringent recruitment and screening procedures
- Daycare centres must be mandated to disclose all staff, including agency workers, to parents.
- Enhanced security measures, including increased camera surveillance throughout the centre at least in play areas
- Expedition of mandatory sexual abuse reporting requirements for daycare workers in Western Australia
- National guidelines need to be developed for mandatory training for parents, children and staff addressing signs and management of suspected child abuse
Sincerely,
[Your name]
To:
The Minister of Police
Australian daycare centre sexual abuse incidents are alarming. The Ashley Griffith case of over 1600 cases (when two confirmed unsubstantiated police reports were made) and the 4 unresolved allegations of abuse at a daycare centre in Perth highlight how pertinent it is to protect these children.
Pre-verbal children are vulnerable, voiceless and seem unable to provide evidence that leads to charges and convictions and thus deserve a voice in the legal system.
The law needs to accommodate their voice.
- Clarification around ‘unsubstantiated’ and where sexual harm does not meet the criteria to meet standards in the criminal justice system, a professional opinion is sought on the likelihood of whether or not a child has been harmed*
- Professional opinion should be sought from forensic psychologists, psychologists with experience and training in child development and sexual abuse, paediatricians and speech pathologists should be involved in the investigation of all daycare child cases. Expert developmental knowledge is critical.
- Senior police are retained
- Police should have more powers to investigate child sexual abuse cases in daycares, while also considering individual rights and privacy concerns.
*recommendation from Bravehearts Abbey project Discussion Paper Published in June 2016, Abbey’s Project Discussion Pape
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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