Many of us already knew the childcare sector was in crisis. The question is: what are we going to do about it?

Increasing penalties and improving information-sharing is not enough to keep children safe, writes Lisa Bryant. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

The absolute minimum a parent should expect when dropping off their child at an early childhood education and care centre is that their child will be cared for and safe. But according to shocking allegations, reported on Tuesday, that basic expectation may not have been met for at least some children in Victorian childcare centres.

One educator has been charged with 70 offences, including the sexual penetration of a child under 12, and a range of other serious sexual offences. The known alleged victims are aged between just five months and two years old.