The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority has suspended the approval of family day care provider Ignite Minds Pty Ltd after inspectors found serious breaches that placed children’s safety and wellbeing at risk. Four educators connected with the provider have also been suspended after the regulator determined they individually posed a risk to children.
The decision means Ignite Minds must immediately close all 65 family day care residences it operates for 90 days while the company addresses the problems identified by the authority. Its services operate from private residences across metropolitan Melbourne, Bendigo, Shepparton and Elphinstone.
The suspension followed Operation Flint, a three-day compliance blitz conducted by VECRA through its Joint Compliance and Monitoring Program with the Australian Government Department of Education. Authorised officers visited 30 residences connected with Ignite Minds and reported finding evidence of hazards and harmful practices across multiple locations.
One of the most urgent incidents involved a five-month-old child found sleeping in a cot containing items that posed an immediate risk to the child’s safety and wellbeing. VECRA issued an Emergency Action Notice ordering education and care at that residence to stop until adequate safety measures were put in place.
Inspectors also found cases of inadequate supervision, including children leaving a property without supervision and a child falling from a high chair. Other residences allegedly contained unsecured poisons and chemicals, inadequate fencing, beehives and areas where children could be exposed to dangerous conditions.
Unsafe sleep practices were identified at some residences, including a child being placed in a cot with items that failed to meet Red Nose Safe Sleep practices. Inspectors also found that required health plans and medications for children with medical conditions were not available at some locations.
After reviewing the evidence collected during the operation, VECRA concluded that allowing the service to continue operating would not be in the best interests of the children in its care. The regulator cited the number of hazards found across the residences, as well as what it described as inadequate supervision and care across the service.
The findings are particularly serious because VECRA had previously raised concerns with Ignite Minds about fencing, unsafe sleeping arrangements and strangulation risks. Enforcement action had already been taken, but the regulator said the problems remained unresolved and contributed to its decision to suspend the provider.
Victorian Early Childhood Regulator Wendy Steendam acknowledged that the immediate closures would disrupt families but said the safety concerns could not be overlooked.
“Immediately suspending a provider is a decision which impacts the childcare arrangements of parents and caregivers, but we make this decision because we know they wouldn’t want us to compromise on safety.”
“It was clear to VECRA that this provider has failed the children and families who rely on its services, as well as the educators who worked for it.” said Steendam
The National Law and National Regulations set mandatory standards covering educator qualifications, staff training, supervision, safe sleeping arrangements and the protection of children from hazards. They also require providers to ensure the homes used for family day care are safe and suitable for children.
“When families entrust their children to an early childhood education and care service, they expect that they will be safe and not exposed to hazards and dangers.” said Steendam
“Family day care providers are on notice. You must ensure your educators and their residences are compliant, and you must provide appropriate governance and leadership to your staff. If you don’t, we will act.” she said
Family day care differs from centre-based childcare because qualified educators generally care for small groups of children inside their own homes. The services typically cater for children from birth through to 12 years of age, leaving providers responsible for monitoring safety and regulatory compliance across numerous private residences.
Ignite Minds has been directed to notify the parents and carers of every child enrolled through its family day care educators. Those notices must explain that the provider’s approval has been suspended and that it cannot offer education and care during the 90-day suspension.
