The One Question That Could Reform Australia’s Childcare Sector (Media Release)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sydney, Australia - Australia’s childcare sector is facing a crisis of confidence. Parents are increasingly unsure whether their childcare centre is truly safe. Compliance inspections occur as rarely as once every four years, complaints disappear into bureaucratic systems, and early warning signs often go undetected until it is too late.

Recent high-profile cases — including mass abuse allegations in Victoria and criminal charges against educators in NSW and Queensland — have made one thing clear: the current top-down regulatory model is no longer protecting children in care.

“The answer is not more regulation. It is bottom-up accountability, driven by the people closest to the children: parents and educators,” said George Matafonov, CEO of PByT.net.

“We already know this model works — it’s used successfully everywhere from ridesharing to ecommerce. It consistently improves safety, quality, and behaviour far better than slow, compliance-heavy oversight.”

We now have the concept and technology to apply this proven model to critical social services like childcare, which remain stuck in outdated, Industrial-Age processes.

“And when it comes to childcare, the shift can begin with nothing more than parents asking their providers one simple question: ‘Are you open to community feedback through PByT?’”

PByT (Powered by Trust) is a new transparency platform that enables verified, real-time community feedback from parents and educators. Unlike consumer review sites, every user is validated, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and protection against manipulation. It offers a practical alternative to expensive and largely ineffective compliance systems.

Verified feedback can reduce regulatory burden, lower childcare costs, and help operators identify emerging issues early — before they escalate and place children at risk.

“Childcare providers who embrace transparency will gain a clear competitive advantage,” Matafonov said.

“In a sector built on trust, openness isn’t a risk — it’s the strongest brand asset an operator can have. Parents will always choose centres that welcome visibility and demonstrate genuine accountability.”

The initiative is part of The Great Signing, a global movement aimed at restoring trust and shared values across social, political, and economic systems. Through PByT, parents, educators, and operators can rebuild transparency from the ground up — without waiting for government intervention.

“Repairing the moral fabric at the beginning of life strengthens society at every level,” Mr Matafonov said. “Verified community feedback is the simplest and most effective way to protect children in care and rebuild trust in the childcare sector.”

Learn more or share feedback:

→ The One Question that can Reform Australia's Childcare Sector

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Media Contact:
George Matafonov
Founder & CEO, PByT
media@pbyt.net