Genius Childcare director Darren Misquitta served over late payments and unpaid super

A Victorian childcare director who allegedly failed to pay staff and owes up to $7 million has ‘disappeared’, leaving those he ripped off furious and in financial limbo.

Darren Misquitta is the director of Genius Childcare, which has 45 childcare centres according to its website. Picture: Supplied

A millionaire entrepreneur whose childcare business allegedly failed to pay staff their wages and up to $7 million in superannuation, has gone missing, according to those pursuing him through the courts.

Darren Misquitta, who has bought and sold mansions in Melbourne over the past decade, is the director of Genius Childcare, which has 45 childcare centres according to its website.

Darren Misquitta, director of Genius Childcare.

Several have closed suddenly in the past few months, leaving hundreds of families scrambling to find childcare. Other centres remain in jeopardy with staff complaining of being paid late, with one saying she has not been paid for five weeks.

Meanwhile, the United Workers Union (UWU) exclusively revealed it is taking action in the Federal Circuit Court on behalf of 57 of its members, seeking repayment of unpaid super and penalties for late payment of wages, in what is believed to be a test case.

Genius Childcare has 45 childcare centres according to its website.

UWU President Jo Schofield said Mr Misquitta had not been seen for around six months and appeared to be “missing in action”.

Although union officials have been unable to track him down, last week they served Mr Misquitta his court papers via his lawyers in Melbourne.

“Genius Early Learning’s director Darren Misquitta seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth,” Ms Schofield said.

“The rumour mill is in overdrive, reporting him in Hong Kong, Japan, the Gold Coast and other locations, but the truth is no one seems to know for sure.”

The UWU said it believed 12 Genius centres have closed or are closing in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA and the ACT.

Jo Schofield, United Workers Union National President, says Mr Misquitta has not been seen for around six months. Picture: Supplied

Eleven centres, including some which have closed, have been taken over by another childcare group, according to the union, although this masthead was unable to confirm this before deadline.

Meanwhile, educators working for Genius have been forced to go to food banks to put food on the table, run a GoFundMe and deal with irate landlords as their pay runs late. One employee said she had not been paid for five weeks.

Additional issues educators have faced include being chased by tradies who haven’t been paid and asking parents to do routine maintenance jobs.

Reports reveal Darren Misquitta bought Cloyne, one of the most glamorous 1920’s Toorak residences, in 2016.

In a letter to staff dated June last year, Mr Misquitta admitted some people were not getting paid on time, blaming it on his fast growing business and a lack of manpower at headquarters. He also acknowledged issues around unpaid superannuation, but assured staff that “any outstanding super payments, including the current quarter, are made by 28 July 2024”.

“We are committed to making sure all payments are made promptly,” he wrote.

Jessika Anderson, a former centre manager in WA, quit last year because she was having to lend staff money because they weren’t being paid on time.

“Before I left I received all my pay, but I still haven’t been paid all my super,” Ms Anderson said.

Media reports show that in January 2024, Mr Misquitta and his wife Karina were looking at selling their 40-hectare oceanfront estate on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula for $23 million.

Media reports show that in January 2024, Mr Misquitta and his wife Karina were looking at selling their 40-hectare oceanfront estate on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula for $23 million.

The couple previously bought a glamorous 1920s Toorak estate, for them and their two kids.

Ms Schofield said Genius Early Learning had abandoned all its responsibilities to families, children and educators, and it once again raised the issue of “cowboy” behaviour by for-profit early learning providers.

Mr Misquitta, Genius Childcare and his lawyers did not provide a comment before deadline.

Originally published as Genius Childcare director Darren Misquitta served over late payments and unpaid super