The role of men in the early childhood sector is being questioned after horrific allegations of child sexual abuse at multiple childcare centres across Melbourne.
But a ban on male early childhood educators is not the right solution, experts say, as it would not address systemic issues facing the sector.
Hundreds of Melbourne families have been told to have their children tested for infectious diseases after childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown was charged with more than 70 sex offences against children.
While caution about men working closely with children was justified, banning men from the sector would have an adverse effect, University of South Australia early childhood education senior lecturer Martyn Mills-Bayne said.
"Children need to have a diverse group of adults around them in childcare and in life," he told AAP.
"Young boys and girls need to see good men around them who are demonstrating how to be in the world ... if you take men out of that, kids won't have access to those good relationships demonstrated by male educators."
About eight per cent of early childhood educators are male, but that figure includes those who don't work with children directly.
The best estimate is that male educators make up between two and four per cent of the workforce.
Early childhood education advocate Lisa Bryant said the role of gender in the sector should be discussed as it was known that the perpetrators of child sexual abuse were most often men.
"Yet it isn't something that's openly talked about ... because we know that we need educators who are male in the sector," she said.
Dr Mills-Bayne said the majority of male educators were already hyper-vigilant about how they do their jobs.
"It's often a tightrope that male workers are walking to protect the children and themselves," he said.
"It's something that most men who choose to study and work in early childhood education are inherently aware of that they are viewed in a certain way and that they stand out as an odd thing to see in a childcare centre."
South Australian pre-school educator Ryan, who asked for his full name to be withheld for privacy reasons, said there was still a traditional view that female educators were more compassionate and nurturing.
"I come to work and I try to operate in a capacity that I can support the children in the same way as a female educator," he said.
"I'm always conscious of my interactions with children, still offering that warmth and support but just being aware."
Ryan said he would be deeply saddened if there was a ban placed on male childcare workers as for many children these educators were the only male role model in their life.
Dr Mills-Bayne agreed the issues within the childcare sector were systemic and Australia needed to re-examine early learning.
More vigorous police checks, CCTV in centres and a national register for early childhood eductors were all ways to stop people slipping through the cracks, he said.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
