Calls for mandatory safe sleep training for childcare workers are becoming increasingly urgent after a series of tragic incidents highlighted gaps in current practices. A formal recommendation from the NSW Coroner over three years ago following an inquest into the death of a seven-month-old baby at a family daycare service remains unimplemented. The coroner urged the New South Wales Government to work with other jurisdictions to amend laws requiring all family daycare educators to undertake safe sleep training.
Red Nose Australia, the leading authority on infant sleep safety in the country, is advocating for the expansion of this training to include all early childhood educators, not just those in family daycare settings. They emphasize that training should be regularly updated to reflect the latest evidence. According to Amy Cooper, CEO of Red Nose, “Just like CPR and First Aid training, safe sleep training should be evidence-based, compulsory, and updated annually for all educators caring for babies and toddlers.”
Tragic incidents continue to underscore the need for reform. Red Nose reports that since the coroner’s recommendations, at least three infants have died during sleep or rest time under circumstances still under investigation. Cooper expressed concern over the persistence of avoidable risks in early childhood settings, stating, “Safe sleep and rest practices must not be left to chance. Every educator, in every service, must be trained to the same evidence-based standard—because little lives depend on it.”
Despite national regulations requiring childcare services to have safe sleep policies and conduct risk assessments, there is no obligation for educators to receive accredited training or refresher courses. This absence of requirements has drawn further scrutiny to the sector, particularly following alarming revelations about systemic failures in Australia’s $20 billion childcare industry.
The situation intensified after the arrest of Joshua Dale Brown, a 26-year-old male educator charged with over 70 counts of child sexual abuse at a Melbourne childcare centre. Investigations have revealed that Brown worked at approximately 20 childcare centres, all operated by private companies, raising questions about oversight and accountability in the industry.
A cache of documents obtained by the ABC revealed multiple instances where childcare educators were either unaware of safe sleep policies or failed to adhere to them. In one case, inspectors recorded instances of infants placed face down or wrapped unsafely in bedding. Disturbingly, there were reports of a child found asleep with a dummy chain that had become wrapped around their neck.
In 2022, an educator at a family daycare centre in Western Sydney was found placing an infant in a bouncer with a bottle, which led to the child falling asleep in an unsafe position. “I placed the child into the cot while the child was still wearing a hooded jacket,” the educator stated, highlighting the dangers of poor sleep practices.
Lynette Rieck, an early childhood trainer with 35 years of experience, advocates for embedding safe sleep practices into all mandatory training programs, including the Certificate III in childcare. She argues that safe sleep practices are inadequately covered and should be a core component of training.
The urgency of implementing mandatory safe sleep training is echoed by early childhood consultant Lisa Bryant, who asserts, “When we know better in regards to children’s safety, we should always do better.” She emphasizes that educators should not have to rely solely on their judgment without comprehensive training.
The heart-wrenching loss of children has prompted parents like Jozef Maragol to seek accountability. Maragol lost his 16-month-old daughter, Arianna, in August 2018, shortly after she was found unresponsive at a Sydney childcare centre. He expressed disbelief that safe sleep training is not mandatory, stating, “How many more will it take before authorities stop sitting behind their towers?”
In response to the growing calls for action, Jess Walsh, Minister for Early Childhood Education, stated that every child deserves safety in early learning environments. She affirmed that all early learning services must have sleep and settling policies, while the NSW acting education minister, Courtney Houssos, acknowledged that progress has been slow regarding the introduction of mandatory safe sleep training.
As discussions continue, the need for immediate reform and the implementation of evidence-based training in childcare settings remains critical to ensure the safety and well-being of the youngest in society.
