Report Calls for Registration of Early Childhood Teachers

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) was tasked by the Education Council with progressing the National Review of Teacher Registration, including establishing an Expert Panel. The Expert Panel have produced a report, One Teaching Profession: Teacher Registration in Australia, making a number of recommendations. One of the recommendations (number 5) made by the report is that all early childhood teachers, regardless of their employment setting, be registered by State/Territory teacher regulatory authorities, under a consistent national approach. At the moment, across Australia, the majority of early childhood teachers are registered. However, some jurisdictions only register early childhood teachers employed in school settings.

Criminal Cases Involving Family Day Care

According to a report on the Kidspot website, Francis Ranji Paramaguru, who co-owns a a family day care service, appeared before Cairns Magistrates Court last week on six charges including importing child pornography.

Ordan Velkoski, the husband of a family day carer, was recently convicted of criminal charges involving the abuse of children in care. A sentence of 5 years and 3 months was imposed by the Victorian Country Court. You can access the judgment here.

Child Protection Responsibilities

ACECQA have published a helpful blog on child protection and the responsibilities of childcare services. However, it should also be mentioned that the National Law (except in Western Australia) requires child abuse to be reported to the Regulatory Authority as provided in regulation 175(2) (see Australian Childcare Regulation, pages 11 and 77). In addition, approved providers are required to operate services in a way that ensures the safety, health and wellbeing of children, as provided in section 51(1) (ACR, page 33) and there is a requirement on approved providers, nominated supervisors and family day care educators to protect children from harm and hazard under section 167 (see ACR, pages 40-1).

Victorian Reportable Conduct Scheme and Child Safe Standards

The Victorian Commission for Children and Young People is currently conducting information sessions on the Reportable Conduct Scheme and Child Safe Standards. Further information is available from their website.

Childcare Benefit Fraud: Commonwealth DPP v Deng & Ors

Further to my previous post regarding the County Court case involving Achai Monydhang Deng, Kuol Deng and Rosa Aluel Riak, the court judgment has been published and can be accessed here.

Childcare Benefit Fraud: Commonwealth DPP v Iheng

This is another case heard by the Victorian County Court involving child care benefit fraud by a Family Day Care (FDC) educator working in the Deng Group of FDC services. In this case, Clement Iheng pleaded guilty to a charge of dishonestly causing a loss to the Commonwealth between 22 January 2015 and 29 November 2015. The court determined that a total of $134,688.28 was dishonestly obtained. The educator submitted false timesheets for care while they were engaged by Dorsey FDC, Hawii FDC, Hello Children Munhall FDC, Happi FDC, Points FDC, White Butterfly FDC and Pink Luel Meth FDC. The fraud involved making claims for caring for his own children and grandchildren,
claims for work not done, and exaggerating claims. The court sentenced Mr Iheng to a period of 18 months imprisonment and that he be released after serving six months of that term of imprisonment on a recognisance release order and the sum of $2,000 to be of good behaviour for a period of two years.

More on Childcare Regulation and Costs of Childcare

Women's Agenda published an article in response to the Centre for Independent Studies' report recommending staffing and qualification requirements under the National Quality Framework be reviewed (see my previous blog post).