The Australian Childcare Alliance New South Wales (ACA NSW) strongly supports with the Federal Government’s actions of cracking down corrupt operators purporting to provide quality early childcare education and care services.

However, ACA NSW is still demanding more actions, including greater collaboration between federal, state and local governments, consistent yet streamlined accountability and transparency standards imposed regardless of types of childcare services, and industry engagement via a properly resourced dob-in line.

“Stopping non-compliances that cheat Australian taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars mean having such funds redirected back to genuine children and their families who need support provided by legitimate and professional childcare services, including long daycare centres.,” said Mr Chiang Lim, CEO of ACA NSW.

The estimated amounts of non-compliances were about $400m in 2012/2013, $700m in 2013/2014, $550m in 2014/2015, and $500m in 2015/2016.

Mr Lim said, “although we do not represent Family Daycare services, we are certain all childcare service providers and peak bodies are united against those dishonest enough to deliberately put children at risk, cheat, as well as discredit our profession.”

Recognising the delineation of responsibilities between federal and state governments as being the provider of funds versus regulatory compliance (not to mention the different approaches between state jurisdictions), it would appear there still are areas of improvements that can help identify the activities of dishonest operators that exploit inconsistent rules and regulations that apply to different types of childcare service providers.

“While we suspect government departments have begun data analyses in order to detect suspicious behaviours, peak bodies like the Australian Childcare Alliance remain willing to work with all three tiers of governments, especially in ensuring high, consistent and streamlined accountability and transparency requirements, incorporating a criminal record check into national Working With Children Checks, leveraging local governments’ planning and compliance powers, and an effective dob-in line,” said Mr Lim.