Geelong's Bellarine Court aged care facility was taken to the Federal Court by the Fair Work Ombudsman when Carolyn Jelcic, a personal care assistant returned to work 12 months after having her second child. She had previously worked six afternoon shifts and one sleepover a fortnight; on returning she was just offered sleepovers which she couldnt do because of her new child. The employer regarded this as a resignation. The operator, A Dalley Holdings was fined $27,720 and manager and part-owner Andrew Dalley, was fined $3168. Carolyn Jelcic won $5000 compensation. The penalty was the highest achieved by the Fair Work Ombudsman for a discrimination based case since it acquired its powers (2009). Its the fourth successful prosecution for pregnancy discrimination.
Australian Senate votes for two separate inquiries into aged care reform
The Senate has voted to establish two new Senate inquiries into the Government’s historic aged care reforms, rollout out on the weekend after years of preparation, amid concerns they will not deliver for older Australians.