By Charlene Macaulay and Benjamin Millar
Six Wyndham family day care centres have been shut down in recent months over a series of alleged rorts involving taxpayers’ money.
Ladybird Family Day Care centre in Point Cook had its licence cancelled in December after it was found to have charged more than the appropriate rates, obtained fee reductions by fraud, supplied false statements and documents, and failed to provide reports.
The breaches were revealed by the federal Department of Education and Training on its Child Care Enforcement Action Register, a list of services that have been the subject of a sanction, suspension or closure.
It revealed a number of other centres from across the western suburbs have also fallen foul of their obligations and been suspended or closed as a result.
In Wyndham, Baraka First Family Day Care in Werribee, Little Treasures Family Day Care in Tarneit, Little Paradise Family Day Care for Collaboration and Development in Werribee, Points Family Day Care in Point Cook and Smart Start Family Day Care in Point Cook have also had their licences cancelled this financial year for failing to comply with a range of conditions.
The centres could not be contacted for comment.
Federal Education and Training minister Simon Birmingham said the government would not tolerate those who seek to rip off the taxpayer with illegitimate claims.
“Those dodgy family day care providers who circumvent the rules no longer have anywhere to hide,” he said.
“Whilst we know the majority of family day care providers are legitimate and provide high quality care, those who break the rules will be caught and we will do everything in our power to shut you down.”
Mr Birmingham said enforcement efforts have stopped about $1.8 billion of taxpayer money going to dodgy providers since the beginning of 2014.
