Reporting in both the Canberra Times (front page) and the RiotAct today, 13 April, revealed that BCC is facing further scrutiny from multiple government agencies. They also report “Education Directorate briefs obtained under FOI show Ms Berry urged Minister Tudge to ensure the Dept of Education, Skills and Employment exercise its oversight of the school’s compliance with governance and management obligations under federal laws”.
The Canberra Times reports “BCC could also have its childcare service shutdown if it fails to comply with a new condition on its licence”. BCC was investigated by the Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA) in 2019 over ‘alleged inappropriate discipline and interactions with children, failing to follow policies and inaccurate record keeping’ (Canberra Times article, 13 April 2021). Following this investigation CECA required all persons in management and control to undertake a fitness and propriety reassessment in January 2020 which lawyers representing BCC Board delayed and subsequently challenged and continue to dispute.
The article reports “lawyers for the college argued for an alternative to the reassessment but no alternative was proposed”. The article continues, “On January 18 this year, the regulator imposed a condition that required the college to appoint a person with management and control who has the requisite knowledge, understanding and capability to operate an early childhood service”. An Education Directorate spokeswoman said the College had “two weeks from April 17 to comply”, following which the school may face further disciplinary action.
The news reports also share a separate ACT Education Directorate probe that found significant discrepancies of up to 41% in the way the school was reporting student numbers in both the census and Student Transfer Register. Census data is directly linked to government funding calculations. The school also failed to submit its 2019 financial statements to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) as required and is consequently red flagged on their website.
An active investigation by Access Canberra Fair Trading is underway and BCC has been was the subject of a damning ACT Human Rights Commission report in its handling of child safety after terminating the enrolment of two students early 2020.