FDC fraud sentencing results in prison time for provider

A woman who is unable to be named for legal reasons was sent to prison on Friday, 9 November, for conspiring to defraud the Commonwealth of approximately $500,000 through fraudulent practices as a family day care (FDC) provider.

Speaking about the sentence, which was delivered by the County Court in Melbourne, Federal Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, said the sentence should be considered a warning to anyone seeking to defraud the FDC system, vowing the Federal Government would continue to catch and prosecute FDC providers who are ‘doing the wrong thing’

“Our Government will defend the integrity of the new Child Care Subsidy, which provides assistance to 1.3 million children and almost 900,000 families across Australia.

“We have stopped about $2.8 billion of taxpayers’ money from being ripped off by non-compliant and fraudulent child care services since 2014.

“If you are rorting the family day care system you will be caught and the Government will take strong action.” Mr Tehan said.

The conviction comes as a result of Operation Caulis, which saw 13 people, including educators, charged for conspiring to defraud the Commonwealth, following an extensive investigation by the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Education and Training.