We know many families may be feeling unsettled following the ABC Four Corners investigation aired this week.
We want to reassure you that at Montessori Academy, the safety of every child in our care is — and will always be — our paramount priority.
We maintain a strong culture of safety, transparency, and proactive vigilance across all services.
We’d like to reaffirm the safety measures and safeguards we have in place and uphold every day as standard practice across all Montessori Academy childcare services:
Zero Tolerance for Child Safety Breaches
We take all allegations or concerns relating to child safety extremely seriously and act immediately and decisively.
All serious matters are reported to the Regulatory Authority and undergo a thorough internal investigation, including CCTV review and staff interviews. If an allegation involves a team member, they are immediately stood down while the investigation is underway.
Supervision and CCTV Monitoring
All Montessori Academy services have detailed supervision plans in place to ensure that children are always within sight and hearing of multiple educators.
CCTV operates 24/7 in all indoor and outdoor areas, excluding bathrooms for privacy. Educator-to-child ratios are constantly monitored to meet or exceed regulatory standards.
For more than 20 years, Montessori Academy has maintained a strong commitment to safety, embedding CCTV across its network of centres, with an average of 30 cameras per site.
Technology Restrictions for Staff
Educators are strictly prohibited from using personal mobile phones or smart watches while working directly with children.
All learning documentation is completed using company-owned iPads or laptops to ensure appropriate and secure use of technology at all times.
Safe and Supportive Learning Environments
All services are managed with a strong focus on safety, compliance, and excellence in education and care. This includes a dedicated group of more than 50 support staff, 10 Quality and Safety Managers, and 9 Montessori Trainers and Program Managers.
Regular audits are conducted on all quality areas to ensure our services meet best practice standards.
We are also Australia’s first long day care provider to achieve Triple ISO Certification — Quality Management (ISO 9001), Environmental Management (ISO 14001), and Occupational Health and Safety Management (ISO 45001).
Comprehensive Recruitment and Screening Processes
Before joining our team, every staff member undergoes thorough background checks, including a valid Working With Children Check (or state equivalent), reference checks that focus specifically on child safety, and child-safety-centred interview questions that assess suitability for working with children.
New Centre Managers also undergo a psychometric assessment to ensure they are fit to take on a leadership role that requires sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and the ability to uphold the highest standards of child safety and care.
Casual staff are carefully selected and, where possible, we use regular, familiar casual educators to maintain consistency for children.
To further strengthen these safeguards, we have recently launched the Compliance Passport to verify in real time the validity of all staff qualifications, certifications and Working With Children Checks (WWCC) clearances across our casual workforce.
This system continuously monitors WWCC and national criminal history checks, issuing instant alerts if an educator’s clearance status changes — ensuring that only verified, child-safe professionals are permitted to work across our centres.
Mandatory Child Protection Training for All Staff
All educators at Montessori Academy are trained as Mandatory Reporters, meaning they are legally required to report any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing. This training is refreshed annually and reinforced through regular staff meetings to foster a culture of vigilance and shared responsibility.
All team members, including casual staff, receive thorough induction training on child protection and their reporting obligations.
Child safety is championed at all levels of the organisation, with our Chief Operating Officer and Company Directors actively monitoring compliance and promoting a safe, transparent culture where employees feel supported and empowered to speak up.
Ongoing Audits and Quality Reviews
Each service undergoes regular internal audits, risk assessments, and compliance reviews to ensure high standards are upheld.
Child safety is a standing agenda item in all team and leadership meetings to support ongoing improvement.
Leadership Oversight and Daily Compliance Checks
Centre Managers and Area Managers conduct daily compliance checks, weekly leadership meetings, and monthly centre audits to ensure all policies are being followed, concerns are identified early, and proactive measures are taken to maintain a safe environment.
If you would like to learn more about our commitment to child safety, I encourage you to read our Commitment to Child Safety Statement here.
We know that placing your trust in us to care for your child is one of the most important decisions you make as a family.
Recent media coverage has been deeply distressing, touching on every parent’s worst fear. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with the children and families affected.
We remain firmly committed to providing safe environments for all children in our care.
Warm regards,
Kellie Osborn
Head of Quality and Safety
Montessori Academy