Tennant Creek’s Deborah Cain accused of falsifying checks to obtain lucrative high-paying gig

Nearly a year after her arrest, a Tennant Creek senior citizen of the year’s matter is still before the courts – with the full brief now served. Read the latest.

A Tennant Creek resident – who was awarded the senior citizen of the year in 2023 – is facing fraud charges over allegedly falsifying checks to get triple-figure paying jobs.

Deborah Cain is charged with obtaining benefit by deception in 2023, with the matter again being heard at Alice Springs Local Court on Thursday, July 25.

The 62-year-old’s matter was heard before Judge David Bamber, where the full 600-page brief was finally served.

Defence lawyer Simon Lapinski, representing Cain, sought a bail variation for her, stating she wasn’t a “flight risk”.

Prosecutor Andrew Lonergan opposed any variation to the current bail conditions, which currently has her reporting weekly.

Ms Cain is currently out on bail and was not present at the July 25 hearing.

Tennant Creek's Deborah Cain is accused of falsifying her working with children checks.

The statement of facts for the case allege Cain’s charges stem from “fraudulent” national police history check and working with children checks she provided to her employer.

The alleged fraudulent documents netted her positions at the Julalikari Aboriginal Corporation in 2020, where she was paid up to $110,000 per annum, according to the statement of facts for the case.

“At no time has the defendant held a current working with children card nor had she held one in the past,” the statement of facts said.

Ms Cain was arrested by a plain clothes constable just after 9am on May 30, 2023 at the Tennant Creek Post Office, according to the statement of facts.

Ms Cain worked in several roles at the Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation, and was also awarded senior citizen of the year and community event of the year at the 2023 Barkly Regional Council Australia Day celebrations.

In June, Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Gerard Coffey said Ms Cain is no longer employed by the corporation.

Judge Bamber adjourned the matter to August 22, with a separate bail variation hearing to take place next week.

Originally published as Tennant Creek’s Deborah Cain accused of falsifying checks to obtain lucrative high-paying gig