Major childcare provider falls into administration, placing dozens of centres at risk

Education provider Edge Early Learning has collapsed into voluntary administration, putting as many as 70 childcare centres across the country at risk of being shut.

The group said Craig Shepard, David Johnstone, and Stacey Clisby from KordaMentha were appointed as voluntary administrators.

“We understand that this may be a confusing and stressful development for families who rely upon Edge Early Learning to provide care for their children,” Edge Early Learning said in a statement.

It added that there will be no immediate changes to the opening hours or staffing arrangements at the learning centres.

“We are continuing to operate all centres on a business-as-usual basis,” it said.

“We are working with management and will be supporting centre staff to minimise any disruption.”

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The education provider operates 70 childcare, kindergarten, and preschool centres across Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT.

KordaMentha said the care, safety, and wellbeing of children remain the top priority during the administration process.

“The voluntary administrators are committed to minimising disruption for children, families and employees and maintaining stable operations across the network,” the group said on Wednesday.

“Employees have the full support of the voluntary administrators as the business continues to operate.”

A letter to parents echoed a similar sentiment, stating the main goal is a stable environment for children at the facility during the process.

In October last year, a former insider from the embattled Adelaide chain told 9News of what she says were a series of alarming safety and supervision failures.

The whistleblower claimed that on one occasion, a child wandered onto a main road, but no report was filed, nor were the parents told.

The woman, who asked to have her identity concealed, claimed she repeatedly raised her concerns, but they were never addressed.

“I dreaded going to work every day,” the childcare worker told 9News.

“The educators would voice out that they needed help, and help never came, which was very disturbing.”

Several South Australian-based Edge Early Learning Centres have been subject to directions from the Education Standards Board over child supervision.

The announcement comes after Avondale Heights Childcare and Early Learning Centre in Melbourne appointed liquidators, shutting its doors after failing to find a buyer, leaving dozens of families without care.

The centre, in the city’s north-west, closed after liquidators of SBS Advisory took control of the business, according to a notice published by ASIC.

Nine.com.au has reached out to Edge Early Learning for comment.