A recent Department of Communities investigation found that Early Learning Australia Pty Ltd published a billboard advertisement for a proposed education and care service that did not have service approval.
In addition, the investigation found that Ms. Michelle Pisani, being a person with management or control of a body corporate, failed to exercise due diligence in preventing Early Learning Australia Pty Ltd from publishing the advertisement.
Both Early Learning Australia Pty Ltd and Ms. Pisani pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court to contravening sections 104 and 285 respectively of the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012 (National Law).
The matters have been adjourned until 11 October 2024 for sentencing.
Quotes from Angelo Barbaro, Acting Executive Director, Regulation and Quality, Department of Communities:
“The community places a large degree of trust in providers and expects the services they are using meet the rigorous standards set out in law.
"Advertising a service that does not have the required approval is an offence under the National Law.
"Legislation places the responsibility on people in management or control positions of care providers to ensure breaches of the law like this do not occur.”
