Educator let go from Victorian LDC after allegations of fraudulent qualifications

An early childhood educator who was working for a long day care service in the regional Victorian community of Kyneton recently had their employment terminated after an allegation of fraud (in relation to their qualifications) was raised. 

The centre managers confirmed with The ABC that they had referred the matter to Victorian police, and to the Victorian Department of Education, in its capacity as the Regulatory Authority for the state.

Communication to parents, which was provided to The ABC for review, indicates that the approved provider “recently identified that they may have provided fraudulent qualifications when gaining employment”.

While the staff member had a valid working with children check and had passed a police clearance, their qualifications were investigated with the issuing Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and it was found that the RTO in question provided information that alleges the qualifications may be fraudulent. 

Parents were said to be distressed by the news, with one father sharing with The ABC that “any parent who had a child at the centre was probably feeling “burnt” by the situation,” but that many felt helpless as there are not many alternatives for ECEC in the community. 

“So we don’t have much of a choice but to continue sending her there until maybe another childcare center is built or an opening comes up somewhere else,” he said. 

The provider said they were “truly sorry” for any distress that the recruitment failure had caused, and that all of the centre’s processes and changes to recruitment processes had already been made.

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