In the past five years, hundreds of childcare workers have been banned from the industry, raising concerns among parents about the safety of their children. At least 390 educators received prohibition orders, which prevent them from working in early education or care, between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. However, data from Victoria, the second-most populous state, is incomplete, suggesting the actual number may be higher.

This situation has emerged following serious allegations against individual workers, highlighting ongoing issues within the childcare sector. National laws currently prevent state authorities from publicly disclosing the names of those who have been prohibited, leaving parents unaware that someone who previously cared for their child may have been blacklisted. Additionally, parents are not informed about the reasons behind these bans, unlike in other professions such as healthcare and education, where regulators publicly name suspended or barred individuals.

Childcare regulators have the authority to issue prohibition orders to individuals deemed an "unacceptable risk of harm to a child or children." An investigation revealed that the number of prohibition orders has increased over the years, rising from about 50 in 2020-21 to over 100 in the last financial year. New South Wales, which has the largest number of childcare services, reported the highest number of blacklisted workers, totaling 224 over the five-year period. Victoria did not provide data on its prohibition orders, raising further concerns about transparency.

Chris Goddard, a child safety advocate, emphasized the severe impact of abuse on children. "The damage done to a little child by sexual abuse, for example, is catastrophic," said Goddard, an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia. He questioned the number of victims associated with the more than 300 prohibited individuals.

While childcare providers can verify if an employee is subject to a prohibition order, flaws in the notification system have been identified. An investigation found that only the worker is informed when an order is issued, not their employer. In one case, a prohibited worker remained unaware of their ban for months due to an email sent to the wrong address.

Goodstart, a major childcare operator, has called for automatic notifications to be sent to providers when a prohibition order is issued. Some advocates are pushing for more significant reforms, including public disclosure of the names of blacklisted workers, similar to practices in other industries. Hetty Johnston, an advocate, stated, "If there was sufficient basis to blacklist a worker, we should be absolutely naming people subjected to a prohibition order."

Education ministers from across Australia recently convened and agreed to support a new National Educator Register. This register will track the identity, qualifications, and Working with Children Check status of childcare workers. A trial is set for December, with a full rollout planned for February. The ministers also discussed legislative reforms to prioritize the safety and rights of children under national law.

National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds emphasized the need for increased transparency regarding the register. "We've got to step up our vigilance and our accountability for the safety and wellbeing of children," she said.

Victoria has faced criticism for not providing data on prohibition orders. The state did not share this information with a recent inquiry into its childcare regulator, citing national law restrictions. However, a recent review revealed that 11 prohibition notices were issued in Victoria in 2024. Goddard described the lack of transparency as "appalling," asserting that the community deserves to know about the individuals caring for their children.

Jess Wilson, Victoria's Shadow Education Minister, echoed these concerns, stating that withholding safety information undermines public trust in the system. "Victorians have a right to transparency when it comes to the number of prohibition notices issued against individuals working in childcare," she said.