❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding child care centre oversight, inspections, and licensing, prompted by concerns about safety and regulatory powers. The Minister provides some data and outlines planned changes to monitoring.
AnsweredQoN 4315Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to child care centres throughout Western Australia and ask -
(1) Will the Minister provide a list of child care centres in Western Australia?
(2) Will the Minister provide details of when each of these centres was last checked by departmental officers?
(3) Will the Minister provide details of whether the check of these centres was a random check or a full detailed audit?
(4) Will the Minister provide details of when each centre last applied for a licence?
(5) Will the Minister bring changes in that will make it mandatory for centres to be checked every three to six months?
(6) Why didn’t the Minister know that he had the power to close a child care centre in Western Australia?
(1) Will the Minister provide a list of child care centres in Western Australia?
(2) Will the Minister provide details of when each of these centres was last checked by departmental officers?
(3) Will the Minister provide details of whether the check of these centres was a random check or a full detailed audit?
(4) Will the Minister provide details of when each centre last applied for a licence?
(5) Will the Minister bring changes in that will make it mandatory for centres to be checked every three to six months?
(6) Why didn’t the Minister know that he had the power to close a child care centre in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 December 2006
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Community Development
Response time
35 days
(2) No. A list of all visits by all departmental officers is not kept centrally. (3) No. The child care licensing system does not categorise visits as being random checks or full detailed audits. (4) Yes. A list containing details of the date on which each licensed centre was last licensed or renewed is provided [see tabled paper no]. (5) No. As announced on 30 October 2006 I have directed the Department to conduct annual visits to each of the child care centres across the State and to increase the number of unannounced visits. This approach provides a suitable level of monitoring of child care centres and the flexibility for the Department to be able to target unannounced visits to higher risk services. (6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
(3) No. The child care licensing system does not categorise visits as being random checks or full detailed audits. (4) Yes. A list containing details of the date on which each licensed centre was last licensed or renewed is provided [see tabled paper no]. (5) No. As announced on 30 October 2006 I have directed the Department to conduct annual visits to each of the child care centres across the State and to increase the number of unannounced visits. This approach provides a suitable level of monitoring of child care centres and the flexibility for the Department to be able to target unannounced visits to higher risk services. (6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
(4) Yes. A list containing details of the date on which each licensed centre was last licensed or renewed is provided [see tabled paper no]. (5) No. As announced on 30 October 2006 I have directed the Department to conduct annual visits to each of the child care centres across the State and to increase the number of unannounced visits. This approach provides a suitable level of monitoring of child care centres and the flexibility for the Department to be able to target unannounced visits to higher risk services. (6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
(5) No. As announced on 30 October 2006 I have directed the Department to conduct annual visits to each of the child care centres across the State and to increase the number of unannounced visits. This approach provides a suitable level of monitoring of child care centres and the flexibility for the Department to be able to target unannounced visits to higher risk services. (6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
(6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
(3) No. The child care licensing system does not categorise visits as being random checks or full detailed audits. (4) Yes. A list containing details of the date on which each licensed centre was last licensed or renewed is provided [see tabled paper no]. (5) No. As announced on 30 October 2006 I have directed the Department to conduct annual visits to each of the child care centres across the State and to increase the number of unannounced visits. This approach provides a suitable level of monitoring of child care centres and the flexibility for the Department to be able to target unannounced visits to higher risk services. (6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
(4) Yes. A list containing details of the date on which each licensed centre was last licensed or renewed is provided [see tabled paper no]. (5) No. As announced on 30 October 2006 I have directed the Department to conduct annual visits to each of the child care centres across the State and to increase the number of unannounced visits. This approach provides a suitable level of monitoring of child care centres and the flexibility for the Department to be able to target unannounced visits to higher risk services. (6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
(5) No. As announced on 30 October 2006 I have directed the Department to conduct annual visits to each of the child care centres across the State and to increase the number of unannounced visits. This approach provides a suitable level of monitoring of child care centres and the flexibility for the Department to be able to target unannounced visits to higher risk services. (6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
(6) In responding to the matters at the Tommie Turtle Child Care in Huntingdale on 27 October 2006 the Department placed a condition on the licence making it an offence for the licensee to allow children to be restrained while sleeping and also referred the licence to the State Administrative Tribunal to be cancelled. I then sought advice from the State Solicitor's Office and was advised that sufficient grounds existed for the licence to be immediately suspended. This information was passed to the Department, which resulted in immediate suspension on 27 October 2006.
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