Childcare boss accused of using bogus prescriptions to get opioids
Hayley Challita was the director of Edukare Childcare and Preschool in Muswellbrook between April 2024 and March 2025. Four former staff members allege Challita used their Medicare numbers to obtain multiple prescriptions.
EduKare has been contacted for comment, and the centre is not accused of wrongdoing. Challita did not respond to request for comment.
The Herald has sighted eight prescriptions that four former colleagues say were obtained in their name but not at their request shortly after Challita asked for their Medicare details via text message which was also sighted by this masthead.
Several colleagues, including a fifth staff member, also provided text messages from Challita purportedly asking them to give her Panadeine Forte from their own or their family's prescriptions.
Paige Roy was employed as an educator at the centre and said that a few weeks into Challita starting as director, she asked her for her Medicare number to 'update employment records'.
'She said [the owner] was updating our portfolios on the company's childcare management system ... I just didn't think anything of it,' she said.
Text messages between the pair allegedly show Challita asking for Roy's Medicare card on four separate occasions, with Challita using excuses including getting a new phone, updating Roy's emergency information and updating the staff management system.
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Childcare boss accused of using bogus prescriptions to get opioids
A childcare director has been accused of fraudulently using staff Medicare numbers to get prescriptions for Panadeine Forte, a strong pain medication containing the opiate codeine, from different doctors in NSW's Hunter region. Hayley Challita was the director of Edukare Childcare and Preschool in Muswellbrook between April 2024 and March 2025. Four former staff members allege Challita used their Medicare numbers to obtain multiple prescriptions. EduKare has been contacted for comment, and the centre is not accused of wrongdoing. Challita did not respond to request for comment. The Herald has sighted eight prescriptions that four former colleagues say were obtained in their name but not at their request shortly after Challita asked for their Medicare details via text message which was also sighted by this masthead. Several colleagues, including a fifth staff member, also provided text messages from Challita purportedly asking them to give her Panadeine Forte from their own or their family's prescriptions. Paige Roy was employed as an educator at the centre and said that a few weeks into Challita starting as director, she asked her for her Medicare number to 'update employment records'. 'She said [the owner] was updating our portfolios on the company's childcare management system ... I just didn't think anything of it,' she said. Text messages between the pair allegedly show Challita asking for Roy's Medicare card on four separate occasions, with Challita using excuses including getting a new phone, updating Roy's emergency information and updating the staff management system.
