A childcare centre in Melbourne’s west will close for 90 days after Victoria’s early childhood regulator found multiple serious breaches of child safety requirements during inspections. Milestones Early Learning Werribee, operated by Affinity Education Group, will have its service approval suspended from April 13, marking one of the strongest enforcement actions taken since Victoria introduced its new childcare watchdog.
The decision follows an investigation by the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA), which said the service failed to meet key obligations designed to protect children, despite being given opportunities to correct earlier compliance concerns.
Regulator found serious safety and reporting failures
According to VECRA, inspectors identified several significant breaches that raised concerns about children’s health and safety. Among the findings were reports that infants under 12 months were left without appropriate supervision and that certain incidents were not reported to the regulator as required under Victoria’s childcare laws.
Authorities said these were not isolated issues discovered during a single inspection. The centre had previously been warned about compliance failures and was expected to implement corrective measures. While some improvements were made, VECRA concluded that important safety concerns remained unresolved.
Interim Early Childhood Regulator Adam Fennessy said the suspension reflects the regulator’s responsibility to intervene when a service does not provide a safe environment for children.
He said the centre had been placed on notice regarding its child safety practices but failed to adequately address ongoing concerns affecting children’s health, wellbeing and supervision.
Centre to remain closed while compliance is assessed
The suspension means the Werribee childcare service cannot operate for 90 days while Affinity Education Group works to satisfy regulatory requirements. Before reopening, the provider must demonstrate that all identified risks have been addressed and that the service complies with Victoria’s early childhood education standards.
VECRA has also warned that additional regulatory action, including financial penalties exceeding $1 million, could be pursued if compliance obligations are not met.
The enforcement action highlights the increasing focus on prevention rather than waiting for more serious incidents to occur. Under the new regulatory approach, authorities can suspend services where ongoing risks are identified instead of relying solely on improvement notices.
Victoria’s renewed focus on early childhood education comes alongside broader reforms affecting Australian families, including the expansion of childcare worker pay funding, which aims to strengthen the sector’s workforce and improve service quality.
Previous employment of accused worker drew public attention
The case has attracted wider public attention because Joshua Dale Brown, who is facing child abuse allegations in unrelated legal proceedings, briefly worked at the Werribee childcare centre for two days during August 2024.
Regulators have made clear that the current suspension is not based on those allegations. Instead, the closure relates specifically to the safety and compliance failures identified during VECRA’s investigation. However, the previous employment has intensified public concern about safeguarding practices across the early childhood sector.
The situation has prompted renewed discussion about recruitment procedures, supervision standards and mandatory reporting obligations within childcare services.
Affinity Education Group apologises to families
Affinity Education Group acknowledged the regulator’s decision and apologised to families affected by the temporary closure.
The company said it is assisting parents in finding alternative care at nearby Affinity-operated centres wherever possible and intends to reopen the Werribee service only after the regulator confirms all required improvements have been completed.
For many families, finding replacement childcare at short notice can be challenging, particularly in suburbs where vacancies are limited. Parents may also face disruptions to work schedules and additional travel while temporary arrangements are put in place.
Why this case matters for Victoria’s childcare sector
VECRA officially began operating on January 1 following recommendations from Victoria’s 2025 Rapid Child Safety Review. The review called for stronger oversight of early childhood services after several high-profile child safety concerns emerged across the state.
The new regulator has broader enforcement powers aimed at identifying risks earlier and acting more quickly when providers fail to comply with legal obligations.
This Werribee suspension is among the first major public enforcement actions under the new framework and signals that regulators are prepared to suspend services where significant concerns remain unresolved.
For childcare providers, the decision reinforces that compliance extends beyond paperwork. Maintaining appropriate supervision, documenting incidents accurately and reporting serious events promptly are essential responsibilities that are regularly assessed by regulators.
Parents may also use cases like this to ask more detailed questions when choosing a childcare provider, including how centres manage supervision, staff training, child protection policies and incident reporting. Many households are simultaneously adapting to the latest Australia tax, Centrelink and minimum wage changes, making access to reliable childcare even more important.
VECRA will continue monitoring the centre throughout the suspension period. Whether Milestones Early Learning Werribee is permitted to reopen will depend on the provider demonstrating that every identified compliance issue has been fully addressed and that the service can safely meet Victoria’s childcare standards.
More information about Australia’s National Quality Framework and approved childcare provider obligations is available through the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
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