The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has served an Emergency Action Notice on Chawla Group AU PTY LTD, the provider that operates Kindoo Childcare Centre in Ferntree Gully, after unsafe sleep and rest practices were identified at the service.
The notice was issued following an unannounced visit by VECRA authorised officers on 15 January 2026, during the visit, officers found unsafe sleep practices and equipment that posed, or were likely to pose, an immediate risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of children being educated and cared for at the centre.
The breaches related to failures under the National Law and National Regulations, including inadequate risk assessments for sleep and rest, unsafe and non-compliant mattresses, and insufficient supervision of sleeping children.
VECRA interim early childhood regulator, Adam Fennessy PSM said parents had a right to expect their children were safe while in care.
“Parents are entitled to trust that their children are safe and well when attending an early childhood service,” Mr Fennessy said.
“This service put young children in danger of death or serious injury due to unsafe sleep practices and dirty and dangerous mattresses.”
The Emergency Action Notice required the service to stop providing education and care to children under 12 months of age until evidence was provided that all mattresses had been replaced and met mandatory safety standards.
The provider was also required to submit new and updated sleep and rest risk assessments.
Mr Fennessy said the operator had since addressed the issues identified by the regulator.
“The operators of Kindoo Childcare Centre have been responsive to the Emergency Action Notice, and we are satisfied that the service has now met the requirements of this notice, which related to unsafe sleep and rest practices and related equipment,” he said.
As a result, VECRA has confirmed the service is now permitted to resume providing education and care to children under 12 months of age, however, the regulator said it would continue to actively monitor compliance at the centre.
Mr Fennessy said safe sleep practices were critical in early childhood settings.
“Safe sleep practices in early childhood services are non-negotiable given the risk to life,” he said.
“VECRA will take strong action if children’s safety is compromised.”
He said the action taken against the service should serve as a warning to the broader sector.
“This should serve as a timely reminder to all early childhood services that VECRA will not hesitate to place restrictions on services that put the safety and wellbeing of children in jeopardy,” Mr Fennessy said.
VECRA has encouraged anyone with concerns about the safety of children in Victorian early childhood services to contact the authority directly.
“Anyone with concerns about the safety of children in Victorian early childhood services should contact VECRA on 1300 307 415,” Mr Fennessy said.
“All reports are taken seriously, and calls can be made anonymously.”
Kindoo Childcare Centre was contacted for comment.
VECRA began operations on 1 January 2026 as Victoria’s new independent early childhood regulator and is responsible for overseeing safety, quality and compliance across early childhood services statewide.
