Emergency Action Notice served on Laugh & Learn Family Day Care Education & Training

The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has served an Emergency Action Notice on Laugh & Learn Family Day Care Education & Training, after two of its family day care residences in Craigieburn were deemed to pose an immediate risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of the children attending.

During recent unannounced visits to nine family day care educator residences operated by the service, VECRA’s authorised officers identified serious breaches of the National Law and National Regulations at two of those residences under Section 167 - Offence relating to protection of children from harm and hazards.

Authorised officers observed numerous serious safety hazards across the two residences, which included:

• Unsecured furniture including a large, heavy bookshelf
• Hazardous materials including bleach, paint and rat sack bait accessible to children in various rooms
• A free-standing chest freezer on a verandah with no child safety lock, accessible to children
• Trampolines without safety matting
• Dog faeces in grassed areas accessible to children
• Obstructed emergency egress routes
• Unsecured and accessible water features

As a result, the Emergency Action Notice requires the approved provider to ensure two educators do not provide education and care to children at their residences in Craigieburn until their respective residences meet the requirements of section 167. Two family day care educators have also been issued with warning notices.

The approved provider must submit evidence to VECRA within 14 days of the notice being issued that the breaches have been rectified and that an updated risk assessment of the educators’ residences has taken place.

VECRA will be actively monitoring compliance with this notice, including the consideration of further action against the approved provider given the seriousness of the breaches.

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:

“Parents and caregivers expect their children are kept safe and well in all childcare settings, not at risk of being injured by unsecured furniture or ingesting poisons.”

“Family day care providers must ensure every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children in their care from any harm or any hazard likely to cause injury. Our visits established this requirement was not being met by Laugh & Learn at two of their residences.”

“VECRA will not hesitate to take strong and swift action whenever children’s safety is put at risk.”

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