Families in the City of Yarra have been banned from giving Christmas presents to childcare workers after the enforcement of a new gift policy aimed at curbing bribery and corruption in local government.
The new staff policy, which came into effect this week, prohibits any staff member employed by the council, including early childhood educators, from accepting gifts on the job.
Four-year-old Oscar and Estelle hold a gift for their educators alongside Hank, Dorothy and Max and educators Tina, Teresa and Filomena at the Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre, which allows gift giving.Credit: Luis Ascui
The move has sparked outrage among parents in Melbourne’s inner-city suburbs, who say they are being blocked from showing their gratitude to the educators who have cared for their children all year.
Fitzroy mother Olivia Zynevych, whose two children attend Gold Street Children’s Centre in Collingwood, labelled the rule “absurd and unethical”.
“I was so shocked, appalled and hurt when I found out about it,” she said.
“I’m sorry, but giving a box of chocolates to a childcare worker, how is that corruption? I don’t understand the ethics behind it.”
The hairdresser said many parents, like her, already had presents for the educators when the rules came into effect.
Zynevych had wrapped coffee mugs, chocolates and baked cookies for six educators at Gold Street Child Care, but was told by staff on Wednesday they could not accept the gifts.
“The teachers at Gold Street are amazing and they work so hard for such little money,” she said.
“I, personally, feel it is disrespecting the staff. They have been there every day to educate the children, wipe their bottoms and noses, feed them, look after their wellbeing and keep them safe and happy. A small token to say thanks is not bribery.”
The changes to the council’s gift policy come after Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission tabled the final report of its Operation Sandon investigation earlier this year.
IBAC acting commissioner Stephen Farrow and deputy commissioner David Wolf after Operation Sandon was tabled to parliament in July.Credit: Wayne Taylor
The five-year investigation into local government found developer John Woodman had plied suburban councillors with hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for project support.
The scandal prompted the Local Government Inspectorate – the watchdog for governance at local councils – to issue advice to councils on how they should create policies to guide councillor interactions with developers and maintain a public register of such interactions.
City of Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly said he supported tighter policies for councillors receiving bribes or kickbacks from developers, he said banning all early childhood educators from receiving Christmas presents was “ludicrous and heavy-handed”.
“It’s collective punishment,” said Jolly, who is trying to get the decision overturned, and has raised it with the council’s head of governance.
“How is giving a mince tart at Christmastime to a childcare or kindergarten worker, who’s on the lowest pay and has looked after your kid all year, bribery or potentially corruption?”
Jolly said several parents and grandparents, had contacted him to complain about the ban, and some suggested putting a $25 price limit on gifts for childcare workers. Victoria’s Department of Education has a rule that any gift given to a teacher over $100 must be declared.
Tina Papa, director at Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre located Coburg in Melbourne’s northern suburbs – which is outside the Yarra council catchment and does allow gifts – said the rule was “ridiculous and offensive”.
“We’re one of the lowest-paid professions for the work and the responsibilities we have,” Papa said.
“At a time when things are so tough right now I would be so offended if my staff could not receive Christmas gifts as a way of parents acknowledging our work, and thanking us for caring and educating their children.”
On Thursday, parents and children were arriving at the not-for-profit childcare centre with chocolates and small gifts for educators.
Papa, who has worked in childcare for decades, got her first job at the Gold Street Children’s Centre in Collingwood.
“It was one of the most beautiful centres ever,” she said. “It makes me sad for the staff who work there. Whether it’s the tiniest little card that a child has made, or a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers or homemade cookies, we appreciate every little gift so much.”
The council’s manager of governance and integrity, Phil De Losa, said in an email to a concerned parent, seen by The Age, the new rules were enforced to achieve a higher level of governance standards and ensure “our staff act with integrity at all times, and we maintain transparency”.
“We are very mindful of the public scrutiny on gift giving and the perception that staff may not be acting ethically when receiving gifts,” De Losa wrote.
“We have decided to have a consistent approach across the organisation so that no staffing area is treated differently to another area of council.”
“We’re one of the lowest-paid professions … I would be so offended if my staff could not receive Christmas gifts as a way of parents acknowledging our work,” said Tina Papa, director at Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre in Coburg.Credit: Luis Ascui
He apologised for the timing of the policy position so close to Christmas, but added the council was required to have a staff gifts policy under the Local Government Act.
“As a level of government we have a responsibility to uphold high standards of integrity, irrespective of the well-meaning intentions,” he said.
“I acknowledge that these changes to the policy may seem harsh, given parents are expressing appreciation of our staff, but we also believe that there are other ways of showing that appreciation such as a card expressing gratitude.”
A Yarra City Council spokeswoman said the council was grateful the community valued childcare staff so highly.
“As public servants though, it is important that our residents have confidence that our staff act with integrity at all times,” she said.
“While we are humbled by the kindness and support from our community, unfortunately we cannot accept gifts, although well-meaning. Any gifts received this year will be donated to local charities in Yarra.”
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