In short:
The NSW Early Learning Commission has ordered Kidscape Early Learning Centre in East Albury to shut for six months over alleged safety risks.
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Commission → order → risks
Authorised officers visited the centre many times over two years and issued several compliance actions, the commission said.
What's next?
The commission says an investigation is underway.
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investigation → visit → actions
An East Albury childcare service has been shut down for six months by the New South Wales independent regulator due to safety concerns.
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service → shut → concerns
The NSW Early Learning Commission suspended the service approval for Kidscape Early Learning Centre on Thursday due to several breaches.
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Commission → suspend → breaches
"In this case there had been numerous incidences where we had to take compliance action and it's come to the situation, after a visit the other day, that we believed that the service was not performing in a way that was safe for children," NSW Early Learning Commissioner Daryl Currie said.
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Currie → have → children
"Over the last two years [we visited] on a regular basis and there have been numerous compliance actions taken because of the circumstances that we have seen there.
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we → visit → that
"We will choose short-term inconvenience over possible long-term trauma and harm, every day of the week."
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We → choose → week
The commissioner said insufficient supervision, failure to safeguard children from harm and hazards and maintaining unsafe indoor and outdoor environments were causes of concern.
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supervision → say → concern
The centre also lacked awareness of child protection legislation and reporting obligations and had inadequate staff induction procedures, the commission said.
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commission → lack → procedures
The regulator was also concerned as to whether resources being used at the service were age appropriate.
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resources → use → service
Mr Currie said he understood the impact the closure would have on Albury families, but decisive action had to be taken.
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action → say → families
"We acknowledge in the commission, and I personally acknowledge, that this is a difficult time for parents and we understand the inconvenience that closing a centre has for parents," he said.
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he → acknowledge → parents
"We assist parents wherever we can in helping them to find alternative services in the area, [and] helping them to source vacancies.
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them → assist → vacancies
Families in need of support are being urged to refer to the Starting Blocks website or contact the commission.
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Families → urge → commission
Centre apologises to parents
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Centre → apologise → parents
A notice on the front of the centre notified parents that it would not be open.
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it → notify → parents
"No children can be accepted into care while the service is closed," the notice reads.
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notice → accept → care
"We understand the significant disruption this causes our children and families and sincerely apologise for the short notice.
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this → understand → notice
We are awaiting formal written information from the Commission and will communicate directly with families as further details become available."
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details → await → families
The ABC has requested further comment from Kidscape Early Learning Albury.
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ABC → request → Albury
Vantage Education, based in the Melbourne suburb of Cremorne, is the provider that runs the Albury centre.
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that → base → centre
It also oversees centres under the Kidscape name in Caboolture, Ballarat, Dubbo and Lara, near Geelong.
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It → oversee → Geelong
Its website says its childcare educators "hold recognised early childhood education qualifications and participate in ongoing professional development".
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educators → say → development
The NSW Early Learning Commission was established in December 2025 after an independent review and oversees more than 6,000 services.
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Commission → establish → services
The Aporia