Australia publishes list of errant childcare providers

Register shows 141 sanctions — including loss of subsidies — and cancellations

Unscrupulous childcare providers have been named on a public list by the federal government for the first time, in an effort to prevent the system being exploited.

The list of childcare providers subject to disciplinary action for offences such as providing false documentation, fraud and charging illegal fees was published yesterday.

The register shows there were 141 sanctions — including the loss of federal government subsidies — and immediate cancellations were placed on childcare providers in 2016-17, the majority of which were imposed on family day care services.

The education and training minister, Simon Birmingham, said the list was intended as “a warning to providers that if you’re non-compliant and do the wrong thing you will be hung out to dry”.

The register, which will be updated every three months, shows there were 59 operators in New South Wales and 75 in Victoria who had their federal funding cancelled or suspended.

The federal, state and territory governments share responsibility for childcare funding and regulations. The federal government conducted 3,800 compliance checks in 2016-17.

Cancelled registrations

On Friday, the Victorian government said it had taken disciplinary action against more than 60 inadequate childcare providers over the past year following more than 1,200 investigations.

Four Victorian providers had their registration cancelled.

A report from the Australian National Audit Office, published in December, identified significant weaknesses in childcare compliance.