'I was really numb': Parents of child abused by childcare worker speak out

David James was last week jailed for 12 years. (Supplied: NSW District Court)

The parents of a child abused by childcare worker David James have called for reforms to the out-of-school-hours care system.

James was jailed last week for 12 years after pleading guilty to 11 charges related to the production and possession of child abuse material.

The parents want mandatory CCTV in blind spots at centres, a minimum of two workers on each shift and a ban on male educators.

The devastated parents of a child abused by disgraced childcare worker David James are calling for urgent reform to the out-of-school-hours (OOSH) care system to better protect children.

Michelle, whose name has been changed to prevent the identification of a child victim of crime, was at a theme park interstate in 2024 with her then six-year-old when she received an urgent phone call from police asking if she could check her son's back for freckles.

"I just knew the police had found a picture of my son," she said.

She was next asked to personally identify the child in the photo with her ex-husband Ian, whose name has also been changed — a sickening moment the pair will never forget.

"You know, you hear about it happening to other people and you always think you'll be the exception."

James was last week sentenced to 12 years in prison with a non-parole period of seven years after pleading guilty to 11 charges related to the production and possession of child abuse material.

Michelle and Ian have chosen to speak out to encourage other parents to talk with their children about body safety and to call for changes to the OOSH system.

"I wish that I could turn back time and that I had a more proactive conversation with [my son], and I wish other parents would do this as well," Michelle said.

In the wake of the distressing sexual abuse allegations against a childcare worker in Melbourne, many parents are feeling anxious. Here's how to talk to your kids about body safety.

"Like never be alone with an adult, never let them take a picture of you on their phone, if they say, 'Don't tell your parents something', you should tell your parents and tell them, 'I'm going to tell my parents because no adult can ask me to keep a secret from my parents'."

The parents want mandatory CCTV in blind spots at centres, a minimum of two workers on each shift (the current policy is one for every 15 children over preschool age), and a ban on male educators.

The latter proposal was last year shut down by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare as "not … the solution", noting most people in the sector were