Parents trust childcare centres with what matters most: their children. But a broken system is putting that trust and children’s safety in serious danger.

• Thousands of students are being rushed through short childcare courses — some completed in just 10 months
• No prior childcare experience is required for many of these fast-track diplomas
• Revoked and even fake certificates have allowed unqualified people into childcare centres
• Some students have fallen asleep on the job, ignored distressed children, or broken basic safety rules
• A 16-month-old child died after being left unchecked during nap time — many believe poor training was a factor

A major investigation has revealed that low-quality, fast-track diploma mills are churning out unprepared workers, often with no proper background checks and little to no real-world training. These courses are being marketed not as education, but as a shortcut to permanent residency.

Experts, whistleblowers, and frontline educators have sounded the alarm. This isn’t just a training problem — it’s a full-blown child safety crisis.

Some students have failed to follow child protection policies. Others were placed in centres despite revoked or fraudulent qualifications. One was caught playing computer games during a shift. Another was terminated after inappropriate physical contact with children.

And in one heartbreaking case, a toddler died after being left alone in a room. Her father believes better training and oversight could have saved her life.

It’s time to shut this dangerous system down.

We’re calling on state and federal governments to urgently:

• Mandate background checks before anyone is placed in a childcare centre
• Crack down on dodgy, fast-track diploma providers
• Ensure all childcare workers understand and meet child safety standards
• Investigate how this loophole was allowed to grow — and fix it now

This is about basic safety — not staffing numbers or immigration policy. If someone isn’t trained and vetted, they should not be working with children.

Protect our kids. Fix the system. Sign the petition now.