Craig Silvey's guilty plea sparks child safety concerns among Australian children's authors

Following Craig Silvey's guilty plea to possessing and distributing child exploitation material, Australian children's authors are grappling with potential career impacts. Melbourne author Danielle Binks has voluntarily obtained Working With Children Checks (WWCCs) for every state she visits, at her own expense, despite no requirement from schools or festivals. She discovered gaps in Australia's state-based WWCC system, including the lack of a national register and limited interstate police coordination, citing the 2025 NSW childcare abuse inquiry. Binks also fears schools may reduce author visits, which she says are vital for student connection and artistic vulnerability. She suggests the sector develop a Code of Conduct for school visits. The news has prompted solidarity among authors and discussions on safety standards.