New childcare provider rescues parents in last-minute takeover of Symonston centre

The long-running saga is over, at least for parents of a Genius Childcare centre in Symonston.

The ACT Government’s Education Directorate has fast-tracked an approval process to enable a new provider to take over the centre on Tuesday (11 March).

The last year has brought a rolling series of strikes and closures at the ACT’s five Genius-run centres, with staff walking off the job due to weeks of unpaid wages and superannuation.

Last week the ACT’s childcare regulator, Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA), stepped in to temporarily shut down the Gungahlin centre due “to an unacceptable risk to the safety, health, or wellbeing of children”.

Genius Childcare Symonston, located at 22 Wormald Street, was set to close on Saturday (7 March) after the landlord terminated the company’s lease for unpaid rent totalling $28,038.

The centre will now reopen to parents and staff on Tuesday, after the Canberra Day public holiday, under the ownership of Bright Bees Early Learning.

“It normally takes six months to set up a childcare centre and I set it up in two weeks,” Bright Bees Early Learning director Amresh Sharma told Region.

Bright Bees currently runs Buds & Bees Early Learning Centre in Belconnen, Blooming Buds Early Learning Centre in Gungahlin and Cubs Corner Early Learning Centre in Tuggeranong.

Mr Sharma knows the landlord of the site in Symonston, and warned him against signing a lease with Genius when former provider G8 Education paid Genius $22 million in early 2024 to buy G8’s 30 Australian centres.

Bright Bees was then poised to take over Symonston in July 2024, when the landlord tried to terminate Genius’ lease for unpaid rent.

Genius then took the matter to the ACT Supreme Court, where both sides were told to keep the centre open in the interests of the families – but on the condition Genius paid the landlord a $125,000 advance from which rent could be drawn. This fund was exhausted in December 2024.

This time, Genius has agreed to transfer its childcare provider licence to Bright Bees.

“The Education Department has been very good – they understand the situation – and we’ve met all the parents and set up all the systems,” Mr Sharma says.

“Everything is going well.”

Genius also took all their fittings and furniture with them, so Mr Sharma said he’s spent the last week running around various shops purchasing items and organising tradespeople.

“The paint, the lighting, the electricity – it’s terrible. The building is in a terrible state. So we got lucky with a public holiday that means we’ve got three days to turn this around.”

The staffing situation remains complicated because Genius is allegedly “threatening” to withhold leave payments if staff leave and re-sign with Bright Bees.

“[Genius] is asking them to go to Gowrie, because they don’t have staff there.”

Mr Sharma said this would change if Genius entered administration, when staff would receive all of their entitlements as creditors.

“There are only 12 children here at Symonston, but we would definitely like the staff to stay on because they know the children and the parents, and there is some sort of continuity.

“And we’ll pay them more than what Genius is paying.”

It’s understood Genius has also attempted to charge parents childcare fees even after becoming non-operational.

A parent told Region they’ve received requests from CECA to provide witness statements about the matter so it can be taken to the Fair Work Commission.

Will Bright Bees look to take on Genius’ remaining ACT centres?

“Look, if we get approached and if the opportunity is there, it depends how it goes.”

Genius Childcare has not replied to repeated requests for comment. CECA was contacted for comment.