The Stuff of Nightmares
This week, it was revealed that a 26-year-old male childcare worker has been charged with more than 70 offences, including penetration of a child, producing child abuse material, and contaminating food with his bodily fluids. The age of the children ranged from 5 months to two years old.
The offender worked at 20 centres between 2017 and May 2025. 1,200 children are being tested for HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhoea. New allegations are emerging daily.
How the hell did this happen?
Yes, it’s a failure of regulation, and governments are scrambling to respond. But more importantly, it’s a failure of business and branding. This is what happens when childcare is treated as a profit-driven enterprise, not a purpose-led service. Let me explain.
The Business of Childcare
Childcare is a $20 billion industry, much of it subsidised by taxpayers. According to a recent ACCC investigation, for-profit providers now account for 75% of the sector.
The report also found that for-profit providers consistently perform worse on all staffing-related measures:
- Lower wages
- Higher staff turnover
- Less secure hours
- Less training
- Centre directors are judged by KPIs tied to revenue and occupancy
This isn’t just a bad look. It’s a structural conflict of interest that’s built into the entire system. It’s pretty challenging to cultivate a safe, child-centred, collaborative team culture when profit comes first.
Where Abuse Happens
It’s no coincidence, then, that the centres where the 26-year-old alleged offender worked were all operated for profit.
Eight of them were run by Affinity Education. I checked out their website, and they sure say the right things:
Affinity Education was founded with a VISION: to create inclusive, nurturing environments where children thrive, educators grow, and families feel supported. At Affinity Education Group, we’re here for one reason (PURPOSE) – to give every child the best start in life. Through it all, we’ve stayed true to our PROMISE: Potential, realised.
Another four are owned by the biggest operator in Australia, ASX-listed G8 Education, which has more than 400 centres across the country, caring for 41,000 children. I also checked out their website, and they also say the right things:
At G8 Education, we are driven to achieve our PURPOSE, creating the foundations for learning for life. We are proud to help shape the lives and minds of tens of thousands of children every day (PROMISE). Our passionate and dedicated team members support and celebrate each child’s talents and strengths through meaningful interactions, experiences, and relationships, creating lifelong positive impacts.
Almost 20 per cent has been wiped from G8’s share price since police revealed the charges on Tuesday. It seems the market knows what matters most. Hollow brand statements and promises don’t cut it when kids are being abused at your childcare centres.
Parents want answers!
Parents are right to be furious. When they drop off their kids, they’re not just handing over a nappy bag — they’re handing over trust.
How is it possible for vulnerable infants and toddlers, aged from 5 months to two years old, to be abused in a business whose key promise is to keep them safe?
Child care is a vital service for families that has been turned into a money-making machine. This is what happens when safety, staffing, and culture are sacrificed to satisfy shareholders.
When you follow the money, in any industry or company, the priorities are clear. Profit comes first. And unless we rethink the entire childcare system, it will continue to happen.
