Gobbagombalin Angels Paradise early learning service to close a second time following identification of unacceptable risks

Gobbagombalin’s Angels Paradise Early Education Centre will cease operations at the end of June 2025, following the identification of risks deemed unacceptable by the service provider.

This marks the second closure for the service. The centre was previously shut down by the NSW Department of Education on 5 September 2024 following serious regulatory concerns, including health and safety breaches.

Families and staff in the Wagga Wagga’s Gobbagombalin community are bracing for disruption, with the centre set to close on 30 June. 

The decision follows a provider-led risk assessment that identified conditions unable to be mitigated to an acceptable level.

In a statement to families, the centre cited “unacceptable risks” as the primary reason for its decision, though specific details regarding the nature of those risks have not been publicly disclosed. The decision has left many families scrambling to find alternative early learning arrangements in a region already facing constrained childcare availability.

Local advocates are urging a coordinated response to ensure affected families can access alternative care. They are also calling for broader policy discussions around risk management, support for regional services, and strategies to sustain high-quality ECEC provision in under-served areas.

The upcoming closure reflects the multifaceted challenges that early learning providers may face in balancing safety, compliance, and sustainability.

As families seek continuity of care, the situation highlights the role of risk preparedness and coordinated support efforts, especially in regional communities.