Latest news with #AdeleFerguson
ABC News
16-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
Betrayal of Trust
Investigating Australia's childcare crisis The ABC is undertaking a major investigation into Australia's childcare sector, revealing what actually goes on behind closed doors. Led by senior investigative journalist Adele Ferguson, it has uncovered the alarming depth of Australia's childcare crisis and raised serious questions for private operators, regulators and governments. This ongoing national investigation is revealing the true state of one our most important sectors. Credits Artwork: Alex Palmer Artwork: Alex Palmer Development: Thomas Brettell Posted 21m ago 21 minutes ago Wed 16 Jul 2025 at 7:23am , updated 13m ago 13 minutes ago Wed 16 Jul 2025 at 7:31am
ABC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Residents of over-50s estates win case against exit fees
In Victoria there's been a huge legal win against the odds. Eighty-three people living in over-50s estates in Melbourne have taken on the ASX-listed company Lifestyle Communities, accusing it of charging exorbitant exit fees when they move out. This week they won their case, a Victorian tribunal ordering the company to stop the practice. The decision will impact thousands. Justice Ted Woodward also heard that some families had been forced to continue paying rent for their relatives after they had died. Investigative reporter Adele Ferguson exposed the practice on 7.30 last year.
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Shock claims about uni childcare course
Southern Cross University is facing claims that its 10-month graduate diploma in early childhood education is in crisis. Staff at the university told the ABC's 7.30 program the course, which could bring in $150m in fees for the SCU with the course cost set at $25,000 per student, was 'very low quality'. The institution was reportedly pushing the course 'hard' with an estimated 6000 students enrolled in the past two years, journalist Adele Ferguson reported. 'We've gone from having classes with 200 students in a unit, which was considered a lot, to over 2000 students,' a whistleblower said. The program alleged that the graduate diploma had received massive enrolments from international students, with the course heavily marketed through immigration agents as a pathway to residency. Immigration agent Mark Glazbrook told 7.30 the situation should 'concern every Australian'. 'We have people coming into Australia on student visas that are studying courses just to use that pathway to get permanent residency in Australia and they're looking after our children, and in some cases, they're not attending their classes.' An estimated 6000 students have enrolled in the course in the past two years, 7.30 reported. Southern Cross University / instagram Credit: Supplied In one claim, the program aired emails showing the university had asked staff to join 'phone sprints' to help find placements for students after the level of enrolment left it struggling to meet demand. 'One email described the situation as a significant crisis, threatening the viability of the faculty, with 400 placements needed by May, and another 2381 by July,' Ferguson reported. The staff who found the most placements for students reportedly received a gift card. The program went on to allege that SCU was placing students in childcare centres that were not meeting minimum national safety standards. The program said regulatory documents had exposed widespread gaps in basic care, including educators not understanding child protection policies, mandatory reporting duties, or even safe sleep and hygiene practices. NSW Greens MLC Abigail Boyd questioned how students were getting a good education at childcare centres that were not meeting standards. John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Abigail Boyd, NSW Greens MLC said the situation struck her as absurd. 'How on earth is it giving those students any kind of good education,' Ms Boyd said. Southern Cross University has been contacted for comment. SCU declined 7.30's interview request and did not respond to detailed questions about enrolment numbers, staff turnover, student distress, or course quality and placement issues. In a statement it said the graduate diploma was a 'rigorous, high-quality program' attracting strong interest, and was fully accredited by the national higher education regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), and the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- News.com.au
Southern Cross University faces shock claims of a crisis in one of their early childhood courses
Southern Cross University is facing claims that its 10-month graduate diploma in early childhood education is in crisis. Staff at the university told the ABC's 7.30 program the course, which could bring in $150m in fees for the SCU with the course cost set at $25,000 per student, was 'very low quality'. The institution was reportedly pushing the course 'hard' with an estimated 6000 students enrolled in the past two years, journalist Adele Ferguson reported. 'We've gone from having classes with 200 students in a unit, which was considered a lot, to over 2000 students,' a whistleblower said. The program alleged that the graduate diploma had received massive enrolments from international students, with the course heavily marketed through immigration agents as a pathway to residency. Immigration agent Mark Glazbrook told 7.30 the situation should 'concern every Australian'. 'We have people coming into Australia on student visas that are studying courses just to use that pathway to get permanent residency in Australia and they're looking after our children, and in some cases, they're not attending their classes.' In one claim, the program aired emails showing the university had asked staff to join 'phone sprints' to help find placements for students after the level of enrolment left it struggling to meet demand. 'One email described the situation as a significant crisis, threatening the viability of the faculty, with 400 placements needed by May, and another 2381 by July,' Ferguson reported. The staff who found the most placements for students reportedly received a gift card. The program went on to allege that SCU was placing students in childcare centres that were not meeting minimum national safety standards. The program said regulatory documents had exposed widespread gaps in basic care, including educators not understanding child protection policies, mandatory reporting duties, or even safe sleep and hygiene practices. Abigail Boyd, NSW Greens MLC said the situation struck her as absurd. 'How on earth is it giving those students any kind of good education,' Ms Boyd said. Southern Cross University has been contacted for comment. SCU declined 7.30's interview request and did not respond to detailed questions about enrolment numbers, staff turnover, student distress, or course quality and placement issues. In a statement it said the graduate diploma was a 'rigorous, high-quality program' attracting strong interest, and was fully accredited by the national higher education regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), and the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
ABC News
01-07-2025
- ABC News
Childcare worker charged with more than 70 offences including sexual assault
Over 1,000 children have been recommended to undergo health screening after a childcare worker in Melbourne was charged with more than 70 offences, including sexual assault. Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was charged in relation to alleged offences that took place at a centre in the western suburbs. The accused man had worked at multiple centres between 2017 and 2025. Adele Ferguson has been investigating the childcare industry for 7.30.
