Genius employee group implores Minister for support as company teeters on brink

A group of employees at Genius Childcare, the embattled early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider, have joined together to request support from the Minister for Early Education Dr Anne Aly to seek recompense for unpaid wages and superannuation owing to them. 

In a letter, sent to the Minister, and also major news organisations including The Sector, a dedicated spokesperson for the employee group states, “I am writing to you on behalf of myself and many other employees who have been severely impacted by the ongoing misconduct and financial mismanagement of Genius Childcare.”

“We have exhausted all other avenues and are now turning to you for urgent assistance, as we fear we will never receive what is lawfully owed to us before the company collapses into liquidation.”

Allegations regarding wage and superannuation non payment discrepancies first started to emerge in June 2024 when the United Workers Union started to receive communications from Genius employees that in some instances their pay had been issued up to five days late, and that superannuation contributions had not been received.

Even after assurances that unpaid balances had been brought up to date from a spokesperson at Genius, and further comments from the CEO, the matter re-arose in December 2024 with the UWU confirming that they had lodged a case with the Federal Circuit Court to recover an estimated $7 million in unpaid superannuation. 

“Despite numerous complaints, legal proceedings, and employee efforts to hold the company accountable, we remain unpaid and facing financial uncertainty,” the letter to Minister Aly said. 

“Many of us are struggling to make ends meet, and we fear that if Genius Childcare enters liquidation, we will lose any chance of reclaiming what we are legally owed.”

Genius services in Blair Athol, South Australia and Gungahlin, ACT have been subject to regulatory scrutiny in recent days, with both the ACT and SA services being ordered to temporarily close to address compliance issues, with the SA service subsequently electing to permanently close. A third Genius service in Toowoomba, Queensland, notified families of its intention to close on 28 February. 

“Minister Aly, we urgently seek your intervention to ensure that employees receive their rightful wages and entitlements before it is too late,” the employee group letter went on to state. 

“We implore the government to take immediate action to protect the rights of the educators and support staff who have dedicated themselves to providing quality early childhood education.” “We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter further and explore any potential solutions that could be implemented to safeguard employees from financial ruin.” 

The Sector invites impacted employees or contractors of Genius Childcare to contact [email protected] to share their stories and to seek support.