Guardian Education and Childcare has facilities all over Australia. Photo: Facebook.
The ACT Government childcare regulator has confirmed it has investigated the provider Guardian Education and Childcare following what it said were “six substantiated breaches of the national law” over the past 12 months.
ABC News has reported on alleged safety incidents at the company’s Canberra facilities, including children being left outside and babies returning home in heavily soiled nappies.
One parent who reportedly made a complaint earlier this year was told the ACT Education Directorate was investigating, but has not been updated on the matter.
The childcare sector in the ACT is regulated by the Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA), a body that sits within the Education Directorate.
“Between August 2023 and April 2024, six of the seven Guardian-operated services in the ACT were audited by CECA,” a CECA spokesperson told Region.
“In relation to Guardian services over the last 12 months, CECA determined six substantiated breaches of the national law, took five compliance actions and undertook an investigation.”
Region asked whether parents were being updated on the investigation’s progress.
“The national law includes provisions to protect confidential information. CECA cannot disclose information that would identify individuals,” the CECA spokesperson said.
Guardian Childcare and Education operates more than 100 centres across Australia, looking after 10,000 children. It was established in 2004.
The seven facilities in the ACT are in Barton, Wanniassa, Civic, Gungahlin, Forde, Forrest and Bruce.
The company is one of several providers that received an ACT Government subsidy to give families 300 hours of free preschool a year. The funding offsets the fees for three-year-old children who are part of the centre’s long-daycare preschool program.
An Education Directorate spokesperson confirmed all seven Guardian-operated services in the ACT were part of the free preschool care program, as they had met eligibility requirements.
Region also contacted the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the national body that regulates child care, to ask whether it had an oversight role regarding Guardian Childcare and whether it would investigate the organisation.
The authority did not respond to our questions, directing us to CECA, which it said was the “relevant regulatory authority”.
A CECA spokesperson also provided the following information.
“CECA investigates incidents or complaints which may indicate a contravention of the national law that pose a risk to safety, health and wellbeing of children.
“CECA encourages any direct complaints regarding concerns with any ECEC services in the ACT and extends a specific invitation to any parents who have contacted the media about Guardian ECEC or other services within the ACT. CECA can be called on 6207 7581 or emailed on ComplaintsCECA@act.gov.au.”
If you know more about this story, contact ojacques@region.com.au.
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