New provider steps in to take over Symonston service in the wake of Genius withdrawal

The ACT’s Education Directorate has fast-tracked an approval process to enable a new provider to take over a former Genius Childcare centre in the suburb of Symonston which was ordered to close from Saturday 7 March due to unpaid rent totalling $28,038.

Bright Bees Early Learning will take on responsibility for the service on Tuesday 11 March, following the Canberra Day public holiday, the latest measure in an unfortunate time period for children, families and educators involved with Genius’ five ACT services, with staff walking off the job due to weeks of unpaid wages and superannuation, and the Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA) stepping in to temporarily shut down the provider’s Gungahlin centre due “to an unacceptable risk to the safety, health, or wellbeing of children”.

“It normally takes six months to set up a childcare centre and I set it up in two weeks,” Bright Bees Early Learning director Amresh Sharma told local news source Region.

Bright Bees currently runs Buds & Bees Early Learning Centre in Belconnen, Blooming Buds Early Learning Centre in Gungahlin and Cubs Corner Early Learning Centre in Tuggeranong.

Mr Sharma said that he warned the landlord of the Symonston site against signing a lease with Genius when former provider G8 Education sold 30 of its services to Genius in early 2024. He was poised to take on the lease in July 2024, when the landlord tried to terminate Genius’ lease for unpaid rent. 

At that time, Region notes, Genius took the matter to the ACT Supreme Court, where both sides were told to keep the centre open in the interests of the families – but on the condition Genius paid the landlord a $125,000 advance from which rent could be drawn. This fund was exhausted in December 2024.

According to the paper, on this occasion Genius has agreed to transfer its childcare provider licence to Bright Bees.

“The Education Department has been very good – they understand the situation – and we’ve met all the parents and set up all the systems,” Mr Sharma said.

“Everything is going well.”

On being ordered to vacate the premises Genius took fittings and furniture, with Mr Sharma saying “the paint, the lighting, the electricity – it’s terrible. The building is in a terrible state,” and that he has been purchasing equipment and organising tradespeople to bring the building and its contents back to an acceptable standard. 

Staffing for the service, Mr Sharma continued, is more complex “because Genius is allegedly “threatening” to withhold leave payments if staff leave and re-sign with Bright Bees.”

“[Genius] is asking them to go to (its) Gowrie (service), because they don’t have staff there,” he added. 

This situation would change if Genius entered administration, he continued, when staff would receive all of their entitlements as creditors.

“There are only 12 children here at Symonston, but we would definitely like the staff to stay on because they know the children and the parents, and there is some sort of continuity,” Mr Sharma said.

It is understood by the reporting paper that Genius has also attempted to charge parents fees even after becoming non-operational, with one parent sharing that they have received requests from CECA to provide witness statements about the matter so it can be taken to the Fair Work Commission.

Mr Sharma said he would consider taking on ownership of the remaining Genius services in the ACT, adding “if we get approached and if the opportunity is there, it depends how it goes.”

Genius Childcare did not reply to repeated requests for comment from Region, with the paper noting that CECA was also contacted for comment.

Find the original coverage of this story here.