Head of Victoria's new childcare watchdog vows to protect kids

Topic:Early Childhood Education and Care Services Wendy Steendam has vowed to improve the state's childcare system. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca) The head of Victoria's new childcare watchdog says the state's early childhood centres are safe, despite multiple allegations against former staff. Former deputy police commissioner Wendy Steendam has been appointed to lead the new industry body, the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority. Ms Steendam will begin in the role in July. Link copiedShareShare articleThe new head of Victoria's childcare regulator has assured parents that the system is safe, vowing to safeguard children following multiple cases of alleged abuse and system failure. Former Victoria Police deputy commissioner Wendy Steendam will lead the new Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) from July 1 after a 42-year career in the force. "My whole intent is to make the system better,'' she told the ABC. Last year's distressing allegations of child sexual abuse by worker Joshua Dale Brown prompted a review of the sector, with a series of system gaps identified by authorities. The ABC has also uncovered a series of failures by regulators, including allowing workers with misconduct allegations to keep their working with children checks. Victoria has a new watchdog to investigate alleged failures and misconduct allegations in the childcare industry. (ABC News: Dane Hirst) VECRA is now the chief regulator of childcare in Victoria and is on a recruiting drive for more investigators. It has already boosted the number of inspections in early childhood care. In an interview with the ABC, Ms Steendam said the role was the perfect fit after years in police working to protect the most vulnerable — including working in child sex abuse investigations. As deputy commissioner, she told Victorians of the horrific allegations levelled against Mr Brown. "I've worked in this crime theme for my whole career, and I'm deeply committed to the care of children and those most vulnerable in our community and an incident like that obviously spotlights the awfulness of what can go wrong and how exposed people can be,'' she said. "It probably speaks to the very heart of why I want a role like this. Wendy Steendam says she took on the role with the childcare regulator to help protect children. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke) She said issues identified by the state's review and alleged criminal behaviour were not the norm, calling them "aberrations". "The reform that's underway is to ensure that that can never happen again,'' she said. Asked about how she personally manages trauma of her work, Ms Steendam said she focused on the future. "The way that I deal with it is actually take what you can and make a difference and actually prevent things from occurring again, and work proactively within systems to make sure they are the best,'' she said. Wendy Steendam says children attending Victorian childcare centres are safe. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca) The former deputy police commissioner said part of her new role was to ensure that the workforce that actually undertook the regulation was well trained and capable, as well as properly resourced. As for the key questions parents constantly ask — are the children safe in care, Ms Steendam said "absolutely". Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn said VECRA was working to give confidence to parents that kids are safe. "Wendy Steendam has spent her career protecting Victorians, and she is well-placed to continue this work at VECRA,'' Ms Blandthorn said. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionTop StoriesNot moving jobs, states or starting businesses: Data says Australians are stuckTopic:Economic Trends and Indicators

Head of Victoria's new childcare watchdog vows to protect kids

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