Busy Bees Toowoomba: When childcare centre will reopen

The regulatory authority for early childhood education has responded to the abrupt closure of a Toowoomba childcare centre, which left dozens of families scrambling for alternative care.

The Queensland Department of Education said Busy Bees Toowoomba Central “met its legislative requirement” to notify the regulatory body of its closure following alleged building issues.

The childcare centre abruptly shut its doors on Thursday, September 14, catching parents and the building’s landlord off-guard.
Toowoomba developer and Bernoth Centre landlord Mitchell Bernoth said he was shocked when he learnt Busy Bees had shut, noting there were no issues with the structure of the building.

Busy Bees at Toowoomba Central informed parents via email less than 24-hours before its closure, leaving parents scrambling for alternative care.

Bussy Bees Toowoomba Central, childcare centre closed abruptly in September 2023.

A Department of Education spokesman said the centre was not forced to close.

“Busy Bees Toowoomba Central has informed the Regulatory Authority of its decision to voluntarily suspend its service approval and temporarily close the service to undertake building works,” he said.

“The RA will inspect the premises to ensure compliance with legislative requirements once the works have been completed and before the service reopens.”

The Toowoomba Chronicle asked the Department of Education if the correct closure procedures were followed.

“The service has met its legislative requirement to notify the RA of this closure,” he said.

According to the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority childcare providers can voluntarily suspend their service, however notice is to be given to the RA and parents.

“An approved provider can surrender their service approval by giving written notice to the regulatory authority,” the National Law & Regulations section 86 states.

A sign was put on Busy Bees door following its abrupt closure - tt states, “for enquires please call or email”.

“An approved provider must notify parents of children enrolled at the service of their intention to surrender the service’s approval. Parents must be notified at least 14 calendar days before the date of surrender is to take effect.”

Following the closure, a Busy Bees spokeswoman said it was engaging with the landlord and had informed the Department of Education of the extent of building remediation works.

“Following initial external repairs carried out by the landlord, internal remediation work commenced and during this process, it became apparent that the extent of works required was more significant than first anticipated,” she said.

Busy Bees Toowoomba Central informed the Department of Education it planned to reopen in January 2024.