Family day care provider suspended following serious compliance failures

The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has immediately suspended the service approval of Gabow Family Day Care Pty Ltd for 90 days after identifying extensive compliance failures that posed an immediate risk to children’s safety.

The suspension requires all 44 family day care residences operating under Gabow across 15 outer Melbourne suburbs to cease providing education and care for the duration of the suspension.

The affected locations include Hoppers Crossing, Epping, Lalor, Craigieburn, Mooroolbark and Werribee.

The enforcement action marks the first time VECRA has exercised its immediate suspension powers since becoming Victoria’s independent early childhood regulator on 1 January 2026.

The decision followed joint inspections undertaken by VECRA and the Australian Government Department of Education in May 2026.

The inspections and subsequent evidence review identified a range of serious compliance concerns, including educators operating without required qualifications, unsafe physical environments within family day care residences and inadequate governance and oversight arrangements.

VECRA said four educators were found not to hold the required qualifications, resulting in an Emergency Action Notice being issued on 11 June 2026.

Other concerns related to fencing, unsecured furniture, the storage of hazardous materials, transport authorisations, educator training and checks relating to people residing in family day care homes.

Following its full review, VECRA identified 23 alleged breaches of the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations.

The regulator determined that allowing the provider to continue operating would not be in the best interests of children’s safety, health and wellbeing.

Victorian Early Childhood Regulator Wendy Steendam said providers were expected to comply with their obligations under the National Quality Framework and that VECRA would act quickly where children’s safety was placed at risk.

“Everyone expects providers to follow the National Legislation. When VECRA finds a provider is not meeting requirements we will take swift action to ensure children are kept safe,” Ms Steendam said.

“It was clear to VECRA that Gabow has failed the children and families who rely on its services, as well as the educators who worked for it.”

Ms Steendam also issued a broader warning to family day care providers.

“Family day care providers are on notice. You must ensure your educators and their residences are compliant. If you don’t, we will take action.”

Gabow is required to notify all affected families that its service approval has been suspended for 90 days and that no education and care can be provided under the approval during that period.

Families may need to secure alternative care arrangements while the suspension remains in place.

VECRA has directed families seeking available services to resources including Starting Blocks and Care for Kids.

Family day care is a regulated education and care model in which educators provide care for small groups of children from approved residences.

Approved providers are responsible for ensuring educators are appropriately qualified, residences are safe and suitable, household members meet relevant requirements and effective governance and monitoring systems are in place.

The findings against Gabow indicate failures across several of these core provider responsibilities and reinforce the importance of active oversight across every residence operating under a family day care approval.

The provider now has 90 days to address the identified concerns. Any future decision about whether it can resume operating will depend on the regulatory process and the provider’s response to the compliance issues raised.

Read the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority media announcement here.