Provider offering “Finnish model of Early Education” enters voluntary administration 

Finnish Early Education (Australia) Pty Ltd and ILO Early Learning (Australia) Pty Ltd, two entities that between them owned eleven services that offered a “Finnish model of early education,” have entered voluntary administration. 

Voluntary administration is a process that is initiated when a company cannot pay its debts and a ‘voluntary administrator’ is appointed to assess options and devise the best course of action for the business and its creditors, i.e.: those that the companies owe money to. 

Operating under the approved provider banner of Holistic Development Pty Ltd, Finnish Early Education (Australia) Pty Ltd and ILO Early Learning (Australia) Pty Ltd delivered early learning services under two brands, ILO Early Education and HEI Schools Early Education and will now be subjected to a sales process as the administrators seek to recover outstanding monies owed to creditors. 

The impacted centre locations are: 

• ILO Kurunjang Early Education Centre
• ILO Hampton Park Early Education Centre and Kendall Hampton Park Early Education 
• ILO Kendall Early Education Centre Ballan and ILO Ballan Early Learning Centre
• ILO Norlane Early Education Centre

• HEI Schools Dandenong North Early Education Centre
• HEI Schools Emerald Early Learning Centre
• HEI Schools Gosford Early Education Centre
• HEI Schools Charlotte Early Education Centre
• HEI Schools St Leonards Early Education Centre
• HEI Schools Brunswick East Early Education Centre
• HEI Schools Ballarat Central Early Education Centre

Holistic Development Pty Ltd received its provider approval in December 2017 and relatively rapidly grew its network across the two brands with the majority of centres in Victoria, alongside two in New South Wales and two in Queensland. 

Founded on a Finnish model of early education the group struggled to maintain momentum ultimately forcing the Group’s owners to elect for voluntary administration.  

Alan Walker, Glenn Livingstone and Nicholas Charlwood were appointed administrators on 11 February, 2024 and will be charged with overseeing the businesses until a new owner is secured or failing that, alternative measures are taken.