Latest news with #AffinityEducation
Sydney Morning Herald
13 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The big money behind childcare operator at the heart of alleged sex abuse scandal
The childcare operator at the centre of the sector's alleged sexual abuse scandal, Affinity Education, lost money last year as it continued with an acquisition binge designed to give its rich-lister backers a lucrative exit. The for-profit childcare sector at large has come under intensifying pressure following allegations that Joshua Dale Brown had allegedly sexually abused children at several Victorian centres, but the Quadrant Private Equity-owned Affinity has also been dogged by other alleged incidents. Brown's case is still being investigated and remains before the courts. Queensland Police charged a 21-year-old male employee of an Affinity centre in Brisbane on July 10 over an offence alleging indecent treatment of a child. That came as the list of centres that Brown worked at continued to balloon, including additional centres owned by Affinity. Scrutiny of Affinity has been limited compared with the ASX-listed G8 Education – which has had hundreds of millions of dollars wiped from its market capitalisation after the charges against Brown were made public – despite Affinity owning 13 of the 23 centres where Brown worked. But financial statements lodged with the corporate regulator by the Brisbane-headquartered Affinity portray a company on an expansion binge since Quadrant bought it in 2021. Financial statements lodged with ASIC show that in the 2024 calendar year, Affinity posted an after-tax loss of more than $20 million, with huge debt bills playing a significant role, despite underinvestment in staff compared with the rest of the industry. Affinity's accounts for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, show it was saddled with $614 million worth of loans, just shy of the $650 million that Quadrant paid for Affinity in 2021 when the company borrowings totalled $325 million.
The Age
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
The big money behind childcare operator at the heart of alleged sex abuse scandal
The childcare operator at the centre of the sector's alleged sexual abuse scandal, Affinity Education, lost money last year as it continued with an acquisition binge designed to give its rich-lister backers a lucrative exit. The for-profit childcare sector at large has come under intensifying pressure following allegations that Joshua Dale Brown had allegedly sexually abused children at several Victorian centres, but the Quadrant Private Equity-owned Affinity has also been dogged by other alleged incidents. Brown's case is still being investigated and remains before the courts. Queensland Police charged a 21-year-old male employee of an Affinity centre in Brisbane on July 10 over an offence alleging indecent treatment of a child. That came as the list of centres that Brown worked at continued to balloon, including additional centres owned by Affinity. Scrutiny of Affinity has been limited compared with the ASX-listed G8 Education – which has had hundreds of millions of dollars wiped from its market capitalisation after the charges against Brown were made public – despite Affinity owning 13 of the 23 centres where Brown worked. But financial statements lodged with the corporate regulator by the Brisbane-headquartered Affinity portray a company on an expansion binge since Quadrant bought it in 2021. Financial statements lodged with ASIC show that in the 2024 calendar year, Affinity posted an after-tax loss of more than $20 million, with huge debt bills playing a significant role, despite underinvestment in staff compared with the rest of the industry. Affinity's accounts for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, show it was saddled with $614 million worth of loans, just shy of the $650 million that Quadrant paid for Affinity in 2021 when the company borrowings totalled $325 million.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Paedophile spotted dressing up as Santa at Beenleigh daycare centre
A convicted paedophile banned from working with kids has been arrested after he was spotted wearing a Santa suit at a daycare centre. The NSW man, 44, was employed to carry out odd jobs at Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre, where his 46-year-old wife served as director. The man was convicted in 2007 of sexually abusing a child. He served eight months behind bars and was prohibited from engaging in any child-related work. In a shock twist more than 15 years later, the man was arrested at his home in Logan, in Brisbane 's south, on Wednesday night. He pleaded guilty to two child protection breaches and was fined $2,000. Police confirmed there have been no reported incidents at the Beenleigh centre. The centre's owner claimed they were unaware of the man's criminal past. In one photo from the daycare, the man was seen dressed in a Santa Claus costume, complete with white gloves, beard and hat. It comes after a 21-year-old man has been charged with indecent treatment of a child at a Brisbane childcare centre owned by embattled provider Affinity Education Group. Police said the alleged offence involved a four-year-old child and occurred on July 10 at a facility in Tingalpa. The Cleveland man has been charged with one count of indecent treatment of a child. Affinity confirmed the man had been stood down after the matter was reported to police. The provider is already under intense scrutiny following the arrest of Victorian childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, who faces 70 charges of child abuse. Brown had worked at multiple Affinity centres across Melbourne. Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the recent cases highlighted the urgent need for reform and stronger national safeguards. 'The Coalition stands ready to work constructively with Labor to enact stronger childcare policies,' she said. 'The states also need to step up.' In response, Education Minister Jason Clare is set to introduce new legislation that would allow the federal government to cut funding to non-compliant centres. The new laws would also empower anti-fraud officers to carry out unannounced inspections without a police presence or warrant.
The Advertiser
16-07-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Burnout, cost-cutting strain troubled childcare sector
Cost-cutting and excessive paperwork are burning out the early childhood workforce and ultimately impacting child safety, a former educator says. The sector is under immense pressure, early childhood expert and industry consultant Chey Carter told AAP, governed by companies that are left to create their own interpretations of required procedures. An Australian-first study released on Wednesday supports Ms Carter's claims, revealing educators are spending just two-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted time with children each day due to workloads and unpaid labour. The University of Sydney study also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. This is not surprising, according to Ms Carter, who has more than a decade of experience and previously worked at Affinity Education centres. She explained the sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation and limited government oversight. "Lots of the paperwork educators are doing is not always necessary," Ms Carter said. "It's more an interpretation from the provider of the regulatory requirement. You can walk into five different services and see five very different levels of paperwork and expectations." The research surveyed 570 educators and indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. A 2023 report by the United Workers Union found 78 per cent of childcare centres had three or more staff leave within a 12-month period. About 64 per cent agreed staff shortages had impacted the wellbeing or safety of children. Early education director with the union, Carolyn Smith, said workers are expected to carry out many duties outside their job description. She believes cost-cutting is a factor behind the expectation of out-of-hours work. "You do wonder why a trained educator is being asked to clean the centre, take the rubbish out and do that sort of work," Ms Smith told AAP. "That should be being spent with children." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and fix workload issues, the study found. According to Ms Carter, the sector will begin to improve once staffing levels are adequately addressed and owners are held to account. "It's just constant chaos," Ms Carter said. Cost-cutting and excessive paperwork are burning out the early childhood workforce and ultimately impacting child safety, a former educator says. The sector is under immense pressure, early childhood expert and industry consultant Chey Carter told AAP, governed by companies that are left to create their own interpretations of required procedures. An Australian-first study released on Wednesday supports Ms Carter's claims, revealing educators are spending just two-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted time with children each day due to workloads and unpaid labour. The University of Sydney study also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. This is not surprising, according to Ms Carter, who has more than a decade of experience and previously worked at Affinity Education centres. She explained the sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation and limited government oversight. "Lots of the paperwork educators are doing is not always necessary," Ms Carter said. "It's more an interpretation from the provider of the regulatory requirement. You can walk into five different services and see five very different levels of paperwork and expectations." The research surveyed 570 educators and indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. A 2023 report by the United Workers Union found 78 per cent of childcare centres had three or more staff leave within a 12-month period. About 64 per cent agreed staff shortages had impacted the wellbeing or safety of children. Early education director with the union, Carolyn Smith, said workers are expected to carry out many duties outside their job description. She believes cost-cutting is a factor behind the expectation of out-of-hours work. "You do wonder why a trained educator is being asked to clean the centre, take the rubbish out and do that sort of work," Ms Smith told AAP. "That should be being spent with children." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and fix workload issues, the study found. According to Ms Carter, the sector will begin to improve once staffing levels are adequately addressed and owners are held to account. "It's just constant chaos," Ms Carter said. Cost-cutting and excessive paperwork are burning out the early childhood workforce and ultimately impacting child safety, a former educator says. The sector is under immense pressure, early childhood expert and industry consultant Chey Carter told AAP, governed by companies that are left to create their own interpretations of required procedures. An Australian-first study released on Wednesday supports Ms Carter's claims, revealing educators are spending just two-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted time with children each day due to workloads and unpaid labour. The University of Sydney study also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. This is not surprising, according to Ms Carter, who has more than a decade of experience and previously worked at Affinity Education centres. She explained the sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation and limited government oversight. "Lots of the paperwork educators are doing is not always necessary," Ms Carter said. "It's more an interpretation from the provider of the regulatory requirement. You can walk into five different services and see five very different levels of paperwork and expectations." The research surveyed 570 educators and indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. A 2023 report by the United Workers Union found 78 per cent of childcare centres had three or more staff leave within a 12-month period. About 64 per cent agreed staff shortages had impacted the wellbeing or safety of children. Early education director with the union, Carolyn Smith, said workers are expected to carry out many duties outside their job description. She believes cost-cutting is a factor behind the expectation of out-of-hours work. "You do wonder why a trained educator is being asked to clean the centre, take the rubbish out and do that sort of work," Ms Smith told AAP. "That should be being spent with children." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and fix workload issues, the study found. According to Ms Carter, the sector will begin to improve once staffing levels are adequately addressed and owners are held to account. "It's just constant chaos," Ms Carter said. Cost-cutting and excessive paperwork are burning out the early childhood workforce and ultimately impacting child safety, a former educator says. The sector is under immense pressure, early childhood expert and industry consultant Chey Carter told AAP, governed by companies that are left to create their own interpretations of required procedures. An Australian-first study released on Wednesday supports Ms Carter's claims, revealing educators are spending just two-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted time with children each day due to workloads and unpaid labour. The University of Sydney study also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. This is not surprising, according to Ms Carter, who has more than a decade of experience and previously worked at Affinity Education centres. She explained the sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation and limited government oversight. "Lots of the paperwork educators are doing is not always necessary," Ms Carter said. "It's more an interpretation from the provider of the regulatory requirement. You can walk into five different services and see five very different levels of paperwork and expectations." The research surveyed 570 educators and indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. A 2023 report by the United Workers Union found 78 per cent of childcare centres had three or more staff leave within a 12-month period. About 64 per cent agreed staff shortages had impacted the wellbeing or safety of children. Early education director with the union, Carolyn Smith, said workers are expected to carry out many duties outside their job description. She believes cost-cutting is a factor behind the expectation of out-of-hours work. "You do wonder why a trained educator is being asked to clean the centre, take the rubbish out and do that sort of work," Ms Smith told AAP. "That should be being spent with children." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and fix workload issues, the study found. According to Ms Carter, the sector will begin to improve once staffing levels are adequately addressed and owners are held to account. "It's just constant chaos," Ms Carter said.
SBS Australia
16-07-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Easy English 16 July 2025
Childcare record-keeping is under fire as police link more centres to accused sex offender Joshua Dale Brown. More than 800 children are being urged to undergo infectious disease testing after authorities identified four additional Affinity Education-run centres where Brown previously worked. He faces over 70 charges involving eight children under two at a Point Cook centre between April 2022 and January 2023. The new sites include Kids Academy in Mickleham and Milestones Early Learning in Tarneit, Greensborough and Braybrook. Education Minister Jason Clare tells Channel 7 there must be a register tracking where educators have worked. " The company should have picked this up in the first place where this worker was. The Victorian Government and Authorities are doing everything they can to track the details of where he worked. But this highlights an example of why you need a database or a register so you know where all childcare workers are and where they're moved from centre to centre. That's just one of the things that we need to do Parliament starts again next week, I'll introduce legislation next week that will cut off funding to childcare centres that aren't up to scratch." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed several trade agreements in Beijing, including one allowing Australian apples into China for the first time. Mr Albanese also met President Xi Jinping during his six-day visit, which focused on boosting trade and stability in the relationship. Premier Li says China and Australia have highly complementary economies and urged closer co-operation. Mr Albanese says the agreements represent both the strong cooperation between Australia and China and a shared ambition to do even more. "This round table is a symbol of cooperation, but it's also a sign of ambition, the cooperation that has delivered profound economic benefits for the people of both of our nations, and the ambition to build on those complementary strengths and go beyond them, to deepen and diversify our trade and business links." Bradley John Murdoch, the man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian outback, has died of throat cancer aged 67. He was serving a life sentence without parole at Darwin Correctional Centre. Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of killing Mr Falconio and assaulting his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, near Barrow Creek in 2001. Ms Lees escaped and later gave key evidence, but Mr Falconio's body was never found. The case shocked both Australia and the UK. His death leaves the mystery of Mr Falconio's final resting place unsolved, for now. A combined First Nations and Pasifika team have assembled in Melbourne ahead of a match against the British and Irish Lions at Docklands Stadium next week. Twenty players of Pasifika heritage and seven of First Nations heritage have come together for the historic game. Assistant Coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga says the team is about more than just rugby. "We're a group of men, especially our groups, come together and it's the one place where we can't stop men talking. Everyone talks about men not talking. I think when they're talking about their culture you see their eyes light up and you'll see them want to talk about it. because they feel a connection to it. So I think there is something in that, in terms of helping in that space. "
