- Published:
- Monday 18 May 2026 at 9:30 am
The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has served an Emergency Action Notice on Cheeky Pandas Family Day Care, based in the Geelong suburb of Newcomb, on the grounds of immediate risk to children. This was after an 18-month-old child in the service’s care was found wandering along the street outside the family day care premises.
This means the family day care centre must immediately close and cannot operate until issues have been rectified to VECRA’s satisfaction.
A member of the public alerted VECRA that on Friday 8 May they saw a child on the street near the family day care centre and noticed an open gate at the family day care premises. They were alarmed by the incident and the facility’s response when they returned the child. The member of the public then reported it to VECRA.
VECRA subsequently carried out an unannounced regulatory visit to Cheeky Pandas Family Day Care. This visit also found that a child walked unsupervised from school to the family day care premises, that a family member of the educator would transport children to kindergarten, and that building materials, debris and other potential hazards were accessible to children including in the outdoor play space.
Additionally, the family day care facility presented a danger to children with ongoing construction work at the facility exposing them to a range of hazards, with little to no management to prevent children from this risk.
As a result of these issues the Emergency Action Notice was issued and requires the approved provider to not provide education and care to children at the residence until they meet the requirements set by the Regulatory Authority.
The approved provider must submit evidence to VECRA within 14 days of the notice being issued that the steps required in the notice have been taken including:
- that all building materials, debris and other potential hazards are inaccessible to children
- that only the educator provides transport to children
- that visitor records are maintained
- an updated risk assessment of the educators’ residence has taken place.
VECRA will be actively monitoring compliance with this notice, with further action under consideration given the seriousness of the breaches. The approved provider will be required to communicate with impacted families.
The approved provider’s failure to comply with this notice may lead to prosecution. A maximum penalty of $103,200 may apply if this notice is not complied with.
Quotes attributable to Adam Fennessy PSM, Interim Early Childhood Regulator:
“We’re grateful that the unsupervised child was looked after by a member of the public, who also reported it to VECRA so we could look into it – the results could have been very serious.”
“Parents and caregivers should be fully able to expect their children are kept safe and well, and not able to wander outside a day care facility onto the street.”
“We encourage people to continue to raise serious incidents like this with us so we can look into them – VECRA will not hesitate to take strong and swift action whenever children’s safety is put at risk.”
"To create environments that are safe and responsive to the needs of all children, adequate supervision is vital.”
“We understand the impact service closures have on families. However, the safety, rights and best interests of children is paramount and this decision ensures that children are safe and supported in a high-quality service.”
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
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