00:00If you're a parent researching childcare centres, it can be hard to know exactly what information
00:08is available and how to access it. There's no database showing the compliance history
00:13of providers, and most investigations stay confidential. But there are steps you can
00:19take to help you make a decision. Firstly, is the Centre for Profit or Non-Profit? Nearly
00:26three-quarters of the alleged and proven offending investigated by Four Corners occurred at Long
00:32Day for Profit Services, which rely more heavily on casual and part-time staff. You can ask
00:39about a centre's employee turnover or churn rate. It's generally a good sign if staff have
00:45been at the same centre for a long time. Another thing to be mindful of is the staff
00:52to child ratio. By law, childcare centres must have one educator for every four children
00:58under two years old. In a recent union survey, 77% of educators said childcare centres operated
01:06below those minimums, at least once a week. Childcare centres must also employ a certain
01:12number of degree-qualified educators. And you're within your rights to ask what education levels
01:18staff have. Due to a combination of low pay and staff shortages, there are fake qualifications
01:26and fast-track courses, meaning some staff are entering the workplace without proper training.
01:34Working with children checks are mandatory for all childcare workers, but Four Corners found
01:39more than 700 cases where they were missing, expired or non-existent. You can't ask providers
01:45for copies, but you can ask how they ensure cheques are up to date. It's worth asking what protocols
01:54individual centres have in place, whether the centre is meeting the national quality benchmarks,
02:00and when was the last time they were reassessed.
02:02When was the last time they were reassessed?
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