❓ A parliamentary question regarding child sexual abuse investigations in WA childcare centres, specifically focusing on information sharing between police and the Department of Communities and the handling of Working with Children Checks. The response indicates no direct notifications of current investigations to the Department.
AnsweredQoN 635Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Childcare centres—Sexual abuse
635. Hon Nick Goiran to
the minister representing the Minister for Child Protection:
I note that it is
National Child Protection Week and refer to the answer to my question asked on
12 August 2025, which confirmed there are current investigations by the Western
Australia Police Force into allegations of child sexual abuse in childcare
centres in Western Australia.
(1) Has the Department of Communities been
notified about any of those investigations?
(2) If yes to (1), how many notifications has the department
received?
(3) Have any persons subject to these
investigations had their working with children check approvals reconsidered?
(4) If yes to (3), has this resulted in the
suspension or cancellation of a person's working with children check card with
an interim negative notice or a negative notice?
(5) Does a protocol exist between WA police and
the Department of Communities to ensure information is shared promptly when
allegations of this nature arise?
635. Hon Nick Goiran to
the minister representing the Minister for Child Protection:
I note that it is
National Child Protection Week and refer to the answer to my question asked on
12 August 2025, which confirmed there are current investigations by the Western
Australia Police Force into allegations of child sexual abuse in childcare
centres in Western Australia.
(1) Has the Department of Communities been
notified about any of those investigations?
(2) If yes to (1), how many notifications has the department
received?
(3) Have any persons subject to these
investigations had their working with children check approvals reconsidered?
(4) If yes to (3), has this resulted in the
suspension or cancellation of a person's working with children check card with
an interim negative notice or a negative notice?
(5) Does a protocol exist between WA police and
the Department of Communities to ensure information is shared promptly when
allegations of this nature arise?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question and provide the following
answer on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the
Minister for Child Protection.
(1) The Department of Communities has not been
notified of any current investigations by WA police into child sexual abuse in
childcare centres in Western Australia.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) With regard to a WA police investigation, a
new police charge or a court conviction would be required to trigger a
reassessment of a person's suitability to hold a working with children check
card. WA police notify the working with children screening unit of the
Department of Communities in almost real time of a change in a working with
children card holder's criminal record information.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) When the WA police consider that there is an
imminent risk to the safety of children in a childcare centre, they will notify
the Department of Communities' Education and Care Regulatory Unit. On receipt
of such a notification, the Education and Care Regulatory Unit will investigate
and take compliance action, such as issuing a prohibition notice preventing the
person from working in the early childhood education and care sector.
honourable member for some notice of the question and provide the following
answer on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the
Minister for Child Protection.
(1) The Department of Communities has not been
notified of any current investigations by WA police into child sexual abuse in
childcare centres in Western Australia.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) With regard to a WA police investigation, a
new police charge or a court conviction would be required to trigger a
reassessment of a person's suitability to hold a working with children check
card. WA police notify the working with children screening unit of the
Department of Communities in almost real time of a change in a working with
children card holder's criminal record information.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) When the WA police consider that there is an
imminent risk to the safety of children in a childcare centre, they will notify
the Department of Communities' Education and Care Regulatory Unit. On receipt
of such a notification, the Education and Care Regulatory Unit will investigate
and take compliance action, such as issuing a prohibition notice preventing the
person from working in the early childhood education and care sector.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.