More than 40 home-based childcare residences across Victoria have been ordered to stop operating after Gabow Family Day Care was suspended for 90 days by the state’s early childhood regulator.
The immediate suspension affects families and educators across 15 outer Melbourne suburbs, including Epping, Craigieburn, Lalor, Hoppers Crossing, Mooroolbark and Werribee. Parents who relied on the provider must now seek alternative care while Gabow responds to a series of compliance breaches identified by authorities.
The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) imposed the suspension after a joint investigation with the Australian Government Department of Education. It is the first time VECRA has exercised its power to immediately suspend an entire family day care provider since the independent regulator was established in January 2026.
By Chetan Sharma
Quick Facts
- Gabow Family Day Care suspended for 90 days.
- More than 40 family day care residences closed immediately.
- Services operated across 15 outer Melbourne suburbs.
- Four educators initially found without required qualifications.
- Investigators later identified another 23 compliance breaches.
- Provider has 90 days to rectify the identified issues.
Investigation uncovered multiple compliance failures
The enforcement action followed inspections carried out during May by VECRA officers together with officials from the Australian Government Department of Education as part of a joint compliance and monitoring program.
During the initial inspections, regulators found that four educators linked to Gabow Family Day Care did not hold the qualifications required under national childcare regulations.
Authorities responded by issuing an emergency action notice in June, requiring those educators to immediately stop educating and caring for children until they became appropriately qualified.
Rather than ending its investigation there, VECRA continued reviewing the provider’s operations, governance systems and educator network. That broader investigation uncovered another 23 compliance breaches, prompting the regulator to suspend the provider’s approval and close every residence operating under Gabow Family Day Care.
Timeline
May 2026: Joint inspections carried out by VECRA and the Australian Government Department of Education.
June 2026: Emergency action notice issued after four educators were found without required qualifications.
July 2026: Following another 23 identified breaches, Gabow Family Day Care is suspended for 90 days and more than 40 residences close immediately.
Regulator says child safety cannot be compromised
VECRA chief Wendy Steendam acknowledged that the suspension would create immediate challenges for parents and caregivers who depend on family day care services.
She said the authority understood the disruption but believed families would expect regulators to prioritise children’s safety over operational convenience.
According to Steendam, VECRA concluded Gabow had failed the children and families relying on its services as well as the educators working within its organisation.
The regulator also warned that every family day care provider in Victoria should ensure educators hold the correct qualifications, residences comply with national standards and management systems provide effective governance.
Gabow Family Day Care was contacted for comment following the suspension. No public response had been released when the regulator announced its decision.
Why more than 40 family day care homes are affected
Unlike traditional childcare centres that operate from a single building, family day care services are delivered from educators’ private homes.
An approved provider can oversee dozens of educators spread across different suburbs. When the provider’s approval is suspended, every residence operating under that approval must stop providing care.
Gabow operated across 15 outer Melbourne suburbs. Publicly identified locations include Craigieburn, Epping, Hoppers Crossing, Lalor, Mooroolbark and Werribee.
Family day care generally provides education and care for children ranging from infancy through to 12 years of age. Many families choose the model because it offers smaller groups, flexible hours and a home-based environment.
The closure of more than 40 residences is expected to place additional pressure on parents trying to secure alternative childcare, particularly in suburbs where vacancies are already limited.
What parents should do now
Families affected by the suspension should contact Gabow Family Day Care to confirm the status of enrolments, fee arrangements, personal belongings and any information relating to future communication during the suspension period.
Parents looking for replacement care should verify that another service is approved, ask about educator qualifications and review the provider’s compliance history before enrolling.
Official advice for families seeking approved childcare services is available through the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority.
The latest action follows increased regulatory attention on Victoria’s childcare sector after a Melbourne childcare centre was ordered to close for 90 days following serious safety concerns, reflecting a broader push to strengthen oversight across early childhood education services.
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Why this decision is significant
VECRA was established in January 2026 as Victoria’s independent early childhood regulator following wider community concern about safety, governance and accountability across the childcare sector.
The Gabow case represents the first time the authority has immediately suspended an entire family day care provider, making it one of the strongest enforcement actions available under its regulatory powers.
Wendy Steendam assumed leadership of VECRA on July 1 after a 42-year career with Victoria Police, including service as deputy commissioner. The Gabow decision is one of the regulator’s first major enforcement actions under her leadership.
The provider has up to 90 days to rectify the identified breaches. However, the end of the suspension does not automatically allow services to reopen. VECRA must be satisfied that the provider has corrected the issues and complies with all legal requirements before operations can resume.
Until then, every residence operating under Gabow Family Day Care’s provider approval must remain closed, leaving affected families to make alternative childcare arrangements while the regulatory process continues.
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