Childcare worker in western Melbourne issued with immediate suspension for alleged misconduct

The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has used its new powers to suspend an early childhood educator who is alleged to have engaged in serious misconduct that risked the safety, health or wellbeing of children in their care.

This is VECRA’s second suspension of this kind over the last two weeks.

It is alleged that the educator, who worked in out of school hours care services in the outer western suburbs of Melbourne, was observed engaging inappropriately with children on multiple occasions, exercising poor judgment, and providing inadequate supervision of children in their care.

It is critical that the worker is suspended from working in early childhood while investigations are underway.

In late February, new powers came into effect that mean VECRA can act swiftly to tackle alleged misconduct from educators that risks the safety of children, where the threshold for immediate prohibition isn’t necessarily met. This power also means VECRA can block the educator from working anywhere else in the early childhood sector while an investigation is underway.

Section 178BA of the National Law in Victoria allows VECRA to give an educator a suspension direction if the Regulatory Authority is reasonably satisfied:

• the relevant person is not complying with any provision of the National Law, or
• there is a risk to the safety, health or wellbeing of children being educated and cared for at an education and care service if the relevant person continues to provide education and care at the service.

After receiving information about the alleged conduct of the individual, VECRA’s initial assessment determined that the educator presented a risk to the safety, health or wellbeing of children at an early childhood service and suspended them. VECRA has also launched an investigation. The suspension will last for up to 70 days while this investigation is underway.

VECRA has also shared this information with other regulators to ensure they are aware and can act if required. The maximum penalty the educator could receive for contravening this suspension notice is $20,400.

Quotes attributable to Adam Fennessy PSM, Interim Early Childhood Regulator:

“Parents have every right to expect that children are safe and well cared for in all Victorian early childhood services.”

"VECRA’s new powers enable us to take swift action and immediately stop risky educators from working with children while we undertake a thorough investigation.”

“We won’t tolerate any early childcare worker putting children’s safety at risk, and we will not hesitate to suspend them while we investigate serious breaches of the law.”

Further background

On 1 January 2026, the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) commenced operations as Victoria's new independent early childhood regulator.

A key recommendation from the 2025 Rapid Child Safety Review, the new independent regulator oversees safety, quality, and compliance in early childhood services across Victoria.

Media contact: vecra.media@education.vic.gov.au