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Victoria’s new children’s commissioner is promising a “reset” following intense scrutiny over the agency’s failure to escalate a review into accused child rapist Joshua Dale Brown.
Tracy Beaton, who assumed the role in December, says she intends to chart a new course for the Commission for Children and Young People.
Her appointment follows the state government’s decision to strip the agency of the Reportable Conduct Scheme, handing its administration to the Social Services Regulator.
The structural shift comes after the scheme failed to act on red flags regarding Brown, a 27-year-old childcare worker accused of abusing babies and toddlers at daycare centres around Melbourne between 2019 and 2025.
He faces more than 150 charges in relation to multiple young alleged victims. There were two internal investigations into Brown carried out by one of his employers, which substantiated claims that he “forcibly” grabbed children in his care in 2023 and 2024. The cases were reported to the Victorian Education Department and the Commission for Children and Young People by the company.
But despite the substantiated findings, Brown’s clearance to work with children was not escalated for review by the commission. This meant he was able to continue working with children.
Beaton, a 35-year veteran of child protection and mental health, welcomed the structural shift in response to the crisis. “I think it’s important to work in a system that’s prepared to evolve… it strengthens child safeguarding,” she said.
She told The Age that the two agencies would draft a non-binding agreement to streamline how they share information. However, she did not clarify when that would take place.
Her predecessor, Liana Buchanan, argued that restrictive privacy laws left the office “hamstrung”. Buchanan, who finished up as commissioner in March last year, warned both the Department of Families and its political bosses that risks to children were growing as her agency couldn’t afford to investigate many of the cases reported to it, and that abusers would be left free to offend as a result.
However, Beaton signalled a proactive approach, vowing to keep a “close eye” on risks and use the commission’s oversight functions to demand transparency.
She said her focus was always on enhancing the safety and wellbeing of children, and that she didn’t want to see any more gaps in systems that could allow potentially dangerous people near children.
“Because the outcome for children and families is terrible,” Beaton said.
“Myself and the social services regulator, we’re really clear that we need to work together to share information … so both organisations work in the best interests of children.”
The former nurse-turned-bureaucrat explained now was the right time to overhaul the commission.
“We’ve got a perfect opportunity for a reset of the commission’s functions,” she said.
“And we will do that.”
Her priorities include looking at previous inquiries to create a new road map for the organisation so it can see what trends and risks are facing the state’s youth.
“Particularly in those systems that service really vulnerable children, such as child protection and youth justice,” Beaton said.
She said the commission aimed to advocate for improvements in law and policies, and it had the power to investigate and inquire into services or systems affecting children and young people. It would also make recommendations to government to improve how services for children were organised.
The commission would also continue to help people seeking individual to support and to navigate the complex bureaucracy they could be facing.
“There are disparities in the educational outcomes of young people in out-of-home care … and we want them to have comparable outcomes,” she said.
The new commissioner said she wants to use evidence to better advocate for young people, and won’t hesitate to be vocal about issues.
“But it depends on what the issue is, and it will be really important for us to think about how we prioritise and energise communities … particularly those who are vulnerable.”
Sometimes it was better to have those conversations differently with politicians or officials, but Beaton wanted to make those matters transparent, she said.
Beaton is also eager to continue to amplify the voices of Victoria’s children and young people, and learn about what changes affect them.
“We’ve got the Youth Council, and that’s something that I want to maintain, because they really help us understand the landscape for children and young people, and that’s really important.”
She hoped that the changes would lead to a more responsive system that would empower young people and their families.
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