Queensland Approved Provider Prosecuted for Leaving Child on Bus

The Queensland Department of Education has recently published details of this prosecution on their website.

New Educator-to-Child Ratio Calculator for Centre-based Services

ACECQA have published on their website a ratio calculator for centre based services under the National Law.

Further Prosecutions by NSW Regulatory Authority

The NSW Regulatory Authority under the National Law (Department of Education) has recently published details of a further 12 prosecutions it undertook last year. The prosecutions relate to breaches of sections 165, 167 and 295 of the National Law and further details can be found on their website. The Sector website also published a summary.

Victorian Information Sharing Reforms

From 19 April 2021, authorised staff in education and care services will be able to share information with other professionals who work with children and families in relation to children’s well being and safety. The Sector website published an article on the changes.

Weston Creek Children's Centre Director Charged with 26 Additional Fraud Offences

ABC Online carried a report on the latest developments in this case.

Weston Creek Children's Centre Director Accused of Defrauding Business has Bail Refused

Further to yesterday's post, ABC Online has published further details on the matter.

Former Cairns Childcare Director Jailed for Six Years over Child's Death on Minibus

 Further to previous posts, ABC Online published the outcome of the case.

Canberra Woman Charged with 23 Counts of Child Care Fraud

Canberra Weekly reported on this story.

NQF Review - Consultation Regulation Impact Statement Released

The NQF Review has released a regulatory impact statement for consultation. Their website includes a number of videos explaining its provisions. In addition, information sessions are being held across the country from next month. Feedback is sort via written submission or online survey (which is yet to be uploaded). This public consultation phase will be carried out from 1 March to 30 April 2021. Input will inform the Decision Regulation Impact Statement. More details can be obtained from the NQF Review 2019 website.

Former Cairns Childcare Director Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter of Child Left on Bus

 ABC Online carried a report on the latest developments in this tragic case.

Tasmanian Childcare Service Worker Charged with Producing Child Exploitation Material

 ABC Online carried a report on this matter.

ACT Government Responds to High Rate of Serious Incidents in Childcare Services

In a recent blog post on this year's Report on Government Services, I mentioned that the ACT had the highest number, of all jurisdictions, of serious incidents reported per 100 services (for 2019-20). The RiotACT! website interviewed the ACT Education Minister on this issue who said "One of the things we have in the ACT within our early childhood sector is a really good culture of reporting, and that is important so we can address some of the issues that might arise in our early childhood education centres,”. I am not sure whether that means ACT services are over reporting or there is under reporting in other jurisdictions.