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Decorating a Christmas tree or going on an Easter egg hunt could soon be illegal activities in Childcare Centres across Australia.
New legislation, to be enacted next year, makes it an offense for teachers to put students having a tantrum into “time out” or giving them any form of inappropriate discipline. It’s the same law, the Education and Care Services National Act, that also prevents children from decorating a Christmas tree or going on an Easter egg hunt.
Supervisors must “ensure that a child being educated and cared for by the service is not separated from other children for any reason other than illness or an accident”.
Children cannot be “required to undertake activities that are inappropriate, having regard to each family’s family and cultural values, age and physical and intellectual development”.
Breaking the law makes the childcare centre liable for a $50,000 fine and the individual teacher liable for a $10,000 fine.
The regulations also require family carers, who normally look after a handful of children in their homes, to ensure regular visitors are “fit and proper persons”.
Criminal checks would have to be carried out on any neighbours, friends or relatives who visit while children are present on more than three days in a month, or seven days a year.
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News category: World.
