Government shuts down more than 70 childcare centres in Victoria

From Point Cook to Dandenong, one childcare facility has been shut down every week and dozens more issued warnings for putting kids at an “unacceptable risk”, including children found wandering the streets. SEE THE FULL LIST

New mum Nicole said she was really lucky finding the care she did for 13-month-old son Mawson. Picture: Sarah Matray

Victorian families are unwittingly putting their children in unsafe childcare situations with authorities investigating scores of facilities over safety concerns and understaffing, with one facility shut down every week.

Among the shocking cases of forced closures was Future Kids Family Day Care, a service in Point Cook where on two occasions a child wandered out of the facility and was returned by a member of the public.

In another case, authorities found unknown adults - without working with children checks - living in the Kids 4 Care Family Day Care premises in Footscray.

Childcare experts say a lack of places in some areas means desperate families are forced to use centres they have “mixed feelings” about.

Victorian Minister for Education James Merlino said the government was committed to weeding out unsafe practices. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Since January 2018 authorities have shutdown more than 70 operators with dozens more issued warnings for putting child safety at an “unacceptable risk” or not having a fit and proper person in charge of the centre.

It was not just small operations found to be in breach of safety guidelines.

In 2018, the after-school care provider Camp Australia at Elwood Primary was prosecuted for understaffing after children left the centre unnoticed.

The provider was fined $15,000 and order to pay the department’s legal costs and no longer operates.

While a Goodstart Early Learning service in Warragul had conditions place on its operations after failing to ensure adequate supervision.

Early Childhood Australia CEO Sam Page said the high number of enforcements was a concern and said parents in some areas often had trouble finding quality care options.

“When people are struggling to get the days they need they are likely to be less cautious,” Ms Page said.

“Some parents also feel pressure to accept a place they may have mixed feelings about.”

The Parenthood spokeswoman Megan O’Connell encouraged mums and dads to research a childcare centre before enrolling.

“It can be really hard for parents to know whether they are getting high-quality childcare,” Ms O’Connell said.

She told the Herald Sun parents should stick with centres that have an “excellent” rating against the national quality standards.

Minister for Education James Merlino said the government was committed to weeding out unsafe practices.

“The vast majority of our early childhood services do a fantastic job, but we want parents to rest assured action is taken if providers do the wrong thing.”

“We don’t tolerate bad or unsafe practises and we won’t hesitate to prosecute providers or cancel their approval to operate.”

WE WERE LUCKY... MANY AREN’T

When Nicole, 32, was choosing daycare for her 13-month-old son Mawson, she was one of the few mums who struck gold.

Nicole said they found family daycare for Mawson. Picture: Sarah Matray

“We looked at a council childcare centre but had no point of comparison and weren’t really sure,” she said.

“So we thought we would try family daycare and we were really lucky that they had the day available we needed.”

However, the story is not the same for some of her Melbourne friends.

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“Talking to other mums, many have struggled to find a centre they are happy with that has the right days available. Some have had to put their children in a centre they are not 100 per cent happy with and then go on the waiting list for the centre they want.”

Nicole says returning to work was much easier knowing her son was in safe hands.

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