A busy childcare centre in western Sydney has been barred from accepting children under the age of two under an emergency action notice, as New South Wales’ childcare regulator reports a significant increase in cancellations and fines following the introduction of new laws.
The Tallawong Early Learning centre, located in the suburb of Tallawong, received an email on Wednesday night informing parents that the NSW Early Learning Commission had decided to cancel the centre’s service approval, effective from June 25. As an immediate measure, the regulator ordered that no children under two years old be allowed into the facility from Thursday onward.
While the regulator stated there was no evidence of a specific incident causing harm to children, it had been investigating allegations of serious breaches. The email explained, “We do, however, have concerns about the level of risk that children are exposed to within the service which has resulted in the cancellation decision.” The concerns included allegations that the provider and service failed to protect children from harm and hazards, maintain a safe and clean environment, ensure adequate incident and emergency management, and guarantee safe sleep and rest practices.
Centre to close from June 25
The cancellation means the centre will cease operations from June 25, leaving parents to find alternative arrangements. The commission will continue to monitor the service through unannounced visits until the cancellation takes effect.
In a statement, Tallawong Early Learning acknowledged the decision and emphasised its commitment to child safety. “The safety and wellbeing of children has always been our highest priority. We have cooperated with the Commission throughout the process and have undertaken a number of corrective actions and improvements at the service,” a spokesperson said. The centre is currently seeking legal advice and declined to comment further on the findings or potential proceedings.
NSW reforms driving compliance surge
This action comes less than a year after the NSW government passed sweeping reforms in response to abuse scandals in childcare centres. The reforms bolstered the regulator’s powers, including the ability to publish information, and exponentially increased penalties. Providers are now required to display a range of information, and a compliance blitz was conducted late last year.
Statistics from the period since the commission was established show stark increases in monitoring visits, compliance actions, and suspensions compared to the same period last year. Visits by Early Learning Commission officers rose by 10 per cent to 4,837 services, of which 69 per cent were unannounced. Emergency action notices surged by 233 per cent to 80, while the number of providers cancelled increased to 217.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said parents should have confidence that their children will be safe at early learning services. “The regulatory regime we inherited was clearly not fit for purpose. The Minns Labor Government stepped in with nation-leading reforms that put child safety first, and other jurisdictions followed,” she said. “We make no apologies for driving poor-quality operators out of the sector while supporting high-quality providers to expand. The NSW Early Learning Commission is doing its job – putting child safety first.”
