The 2025 Rapid Child Safety Review - Observations, learnings and next steps

Drinks with Pam White PSM

Hosted by Tony Nippard

On 2 July 2025, the Victorian Government commissioned an independent Rapid Child Safety Review in response to alarming allegations of child sexual abuse within Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings across Victoria. The Review was conducted by Jay Weatherill AO, former Premier of South Australia, along with Pam White PSM, and delivered its final report on 15 August 2025.

The review was prompted by revelations of incidents in childcare setting, including the case of former childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, who faced over 70 charges for child-related offences, highlighting serious risks in the sector. The allegations surfacing in Victoria, coincided with a Four Corners report which revealed that nearly 150 childcare workers have been convicted, charged, or accused of sexual abuse across Australia, with 42 leading to convictions and 14 currently before courts.

The recommendations of the review focussed on:

Systemic governance – urging the government to reevaluate Victoria’s role in ECEC regulation.

Prevention of predators entering the ECEC system – recommending improved recruitment, screening, and a National Early Childhood Worker Register.

Detection & Response – urging faster identification and removal of predatory individuals through strengthened Working with Children Checks, Reportable Conduct Scheme, and more frequent inspections.

In addition, the report also recommended that the Victorian Government advocate that the Commonwealth and other State and Territory Governments adopt key changes to improve transparency and accountability at the national level.

We are delighted to welcome co-author of the Review, Pam White PSM, to discuss this pressing topic. The conversation will touch on the questions of how we got to where we are, what are the learnings for the future, and are there broader issues regarding the funding and regulation of services for vulnerable groups within Australia.

Pam White PSM has over thirty years’ experience in senior management and leadership positions in the Victorian Public Service.

Pam is a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors, and currently the Chair of the Victorian Registration and Qualification Authority, a Non-Executive Director of the Country Fire Authority, and a Non-Executive Director of Launch Housing.

Pam was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2012 for work in improving services for vulnerable children and for services to emergency management recovery services. 

Please join Pam to learn more about the Review's findings, and further your understanding of this critical issue facing our country.