Following serious allegations against a former employee, G8 Education has announced a significant upgrade in safety measures across its childcare centres. The company will implement CCTV across all its 400 centres and increase parental control over children’s care routines.
New Safety Measures Introduced
The initiative comes after Joshua Dale Brown, a former worker at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook, Victoria, was accused of abusing eight children, some as young as five months, between April 2022 and January 2023. In response, G8 Education unveiled a broad package of safety enhancements to reassure parents and safeguard children.
Among the changes, G8 is expediting the installation of CCTV systems, a process that had been trialed in several centres. The company is also expanding its use of Individual Learning Plans. This will allow parents to specify which educators they prefer for their child’s personal care tasks, such as nappy changes and toileting.
Commitment to Child Safety
Pejman Okhovat, G8’s managing director and chief executive, expressed deep regret over the incidents and pledged full support to the affected families. “These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved,” he stated. Okhovat confirmed that G8 is collaborating with Victoria Police and other authorities to ensure justice is served.
In addition to immediate measures, G8 Education plans to commission an independent review of the incident after the conclusion of criminal proceedings. This review aims to further strengthen the company’s child safety procedures. Okhovat stressed the importance of expanding safety measures beyond G8’s network, advocating for a national educator register and a unified Working with Children Check across states.
Sector-Wide Implications
Authorities have disclosed the employment details of all 20 childcare centres where Brown worked, urging parents and caregivers of 1,200 children to have their children tested for sexually transmitted infections as a precautionary measure.
While G8 Education already enforces comprehensive child safety policies, including device bans in childcare rooms and mandatory reporting protocols, the company acknowledges the necessity of going further. G8’s call for broader sector reform highlights the urgency of enhancing safety standards across all childcare facilities in Australia.
