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Since news broke that a childcare worker had been charged with sexual assault and 1,200 children need to be tested for possible sexually transmitted infections, parents and carers will be feeling a mix of outrage, disgust and terror.
How can abuse be happening? Why isn’t a system that is supposed to care for little ones doing a better job? How do parents know their kids are safe?
In a package of coverage, criminology expert Danielle Arlanda Harris provides a comprehensive list of questions parents can ask their childcare service. This includes everything from nappy change and naptime policies to how they recruit educators.
Social work researcher Rosemary Sheehan looks at working with children checks: how are they vetted, and why aren’t they foolproof?
And early childhood expert Martyn Mills-Bayne looks at the vexed issue of men working in childcare. Men are still a rarity in the profession, and this week’s news will not help.
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Judith Ireland
Education Editor
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Danielle Arlanda Harris, Griffith University
Parents have been left reeling by news a male Melbourne childcare worker has been charged with alleged sexual abuse of young children in his care.
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Rosemary Sheehan, Monash University
Once you get your card, it lasts five years. So people can be flying under the radar.
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Martyn Mills-Bayne, University of South Australia
While caution is completely justified, it would be a mistake to drive innocent, caring men out of the sector.
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Marg Rogers, University of New England
Supervision gaps can lead to child sexual abuse. Much more needs to be done to fix this long-neglected issue.
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Steve Turton, CQUniversity Australia
A second low forming off the NSW coast may have given anxious residents a reprieve by pulling energy away from the huge storm lashing the coast.
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Lester Munson, University of Sydney
Donald Trump’s scored a major political win, after his mega tax and spending bill cleared its biggest hurdle. It could be signed into law as soon as July 4.
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Andrew Merdith, University of Adelaide; Benjamin J. W. Mills, University of Leeds; Zhen Xu, University of Leeds
The answer confirms scientists’ suspicion that when our planet’s climate crosses certain ‘tipping points’, truly catastrophic ecological collapse can follow.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians and social services says we need ‘unpleasant conversations’ to achieve real outcomes – like keeping families together.
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Darla Hatton MacDonald, University of Tasmania; Elizabeth Leane, University of Tasmania
Visitor numbers to Antarctica could reach 450,000 a year within a decade, according to one scenario. How do we stem the tide?
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Brittany Ferdinands, University of Sydney
Do you love using the laughing-crying emoji? If so, you’re probably a Millennial.
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Health + Medicine
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Katy Bell, University of Sydney; Brooke Nickel, University of Sydney; Mark Morgan, Bond University
The new lung cancer screening program needs to be independently evaluated to keep it on track, and to minimise the harms.
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Thomas Jeffries, Western Sydney University; Charles Oliver Morton, Western Sydney University
Aflatoxin can cause serious damage to the liver, including cancer. But contamination recalls are rare.
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Belinda Wheaton, University of Waikato; Byron Rangiwai, UNITEC Institute of Technology; Nicholas Bowden, University of Otago; Stephanie D'Souza, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Increasing access to ADHD diagnosis and medication is a good move. But it shouldn’t be the whole plan to address a condition affecting thousands in New Zealand.
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Business + Economy
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Mark Melatos, University of Sydney
Superannuation funds are under pressure to justify their expenses after one of Australia’s biggest used members’ savings for corporate hospitality.
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Science + Technology
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Lisa M. Given, RMIT University
Before December, search engines such as Google will need to implement several other measures aimed at protecting children online.
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Simon Coghlan, The University of Melbourne; Lucy Sparrow, The University of Melbourne
Even if you suspect a fake, here’s what to consider before accusing someone of using AI to create art, music or writing.
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Arts + Culture
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Adrian Dyer, Monash University
The first representation of a kangaroo on money was not in Australia, but actually in England in 1795.
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Books + Ideas
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Michael R. Griffiths, University of Wollongong
Roland Barthes’ notion that the author is dead has been incredibly influential, though it was not as original or revolutionary as it seemed.
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Your Say
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It's time for universal dental care
"Having read the article on why people with mental illness have poorer oral health, why do we resist the policy to include dental treatment in Medicare? Why do we let our partisan political position affect the adoption of a policy that would help people's general health in so many ways? More shame on our political representatives for their inability to unite on this issue and implement universal dental care through Medicare."
Māris Bruzgulis 
David vs Goliath
"When it comes to trade relations, Australia vs the US is like David vs Goliath. But let's not forget who won that fight. Our relationship is about more than trade — Australia is an important strategic security ally for the US in the Asia Pacific. If President Trump wants to play hardball, perhaps we can add that fact into our slingshot."
Steve Amesbury
Cassius Turvey
"The article on Cassius Turvey's murder is shocking in its demonstration of how institutional racism works. The Supreme Court Justice's language and thinking allows the hate to go unspoken."
Kym Houghton
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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University of Technology, Sydney
Sydney NSW, Australia
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Full Time
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Charles Darwin University
Darwin NT, Australia
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Contract
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