Upgrading childcare in Australia - Daycare shut down in Wagga Wagga

 

Childcare business owner admits to centre’s failings

A Sydney businessman whose childcare centre was shut down in May due to an “unacceptable risk to children” has admitted staff at his centre were hired without working with children checks and infants ate food scraps off the floor. Yet John Tanios claims he was unfairly targeted by the state childcare regulator, calling his suspension − which he plans to fight in court − a “witch-hunt”.

The Angel’s Paradise centre in Wagga Wagga operated from 2016 but never met national quality standards – instead it was consistently rated as “working towards”, the second-lowest ranking by the regulator. The centre’s licence was suspended in September 2024 after a child fell and broke his collarbone. A government investigation found children at the centre were placed in high chairs as a form of behaviour management and were seen eating food off the floor, which Tanios admitted “may have happened two times, three times ... but it’s not something that’s common practice”.

A whistleblower said in one instance she was looking after 22 children despite being too young to have a working with children check. Despite Tanios’ centre never meeting standards, up to 70 per cent of running costs were covered by government subsidies. More than 35 childcare services across Australia now face having their funding stripped if they do not meet national standards under new federal government powers.

It's amazing that the daycare was allowed to operate for 8 years without meeting safety standards. The efforts to improve are laudable, but daycares will never be safe for little children as long as men, or boys, are present. 

Read the full report, which is behind a paywall on the Sydney Morning Herald

• Read the full report