Affinity Education moves to reassure parents amid fallout from Victorian worker arrest

EVERY morning, hundreds of families across the Port Macquarie-Hastings region drop their children off at a registered childcare centre.

With a kiss on the forehead and a hug goodbye, they expect them to be fed, educated, and cared for.

But above all else, they expect them to be safe.

Following the arrest of a male childcare worker in Melbourne last week over more than 70 alleged child sex assaults, Little Beginnings Bangalay has issued a letter to parents on behalf of Affinity Education Group.

It was part of a nationwide effort to ease growing concerns about the safety of children in childcare.

“We are deeply distressed by the nature of the charges laid this week against an individual who has worked in some Victorian-based Affinity centres, Joshua Brown,” wrote Affinity Education Group CEO Tim Hickey.

Acknowledging the concern and anxiety the news may be causing people within the childcare community, Mr Hickey assured families that their children’s safety was Affinity’s top concern.

“Affinity Education Group has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of abuse or misconduct involving children.

“The safety and wellbeing of every child in our care is – and always will be – our highest priority,” he said.

Affinity, a private equity-owned company, manages 250 centres across Australia, including the Papilio, Milestones, and Kids Academy brands.

Also known as Bangalay Child Care and Education Centre, it was announced that Little Beginnings Bangalay had been acquired by Affinity Education Group in January this year.

The change of hands was a surprise to many families who shared long-standing loyalty and love for the local centre.

“Affinity had been in the media a lot and when I heard that it was taking over Bangalay, I won’t lie, I was a bit concerned,” said a current parent of the centre who asked not to be named.

From 2021 to 2024, Affinity-operated centres were issued with 1700 regulatory breaches.

Numbers like these cast a shadow over centres that live under the Affinity umbrella.

However, parents of the Lighthouse Beach centre praise staff.

“We love the staff at the centre. Some of them have been there for a really long time and they all genuinely care for the kids,” the parent told News Of The Area.

With child safety top of mind for all families, Mr Hickey insists that “children in our centres are actively supervised by qualified educators, with clear policies in place to ensure they are always within sight and hearing distance to support their safety, wellbeing, and engagement.”

That safety is, understandably, the very least that families expect.

“We know it can be stressful, we know it’s hard work, but when we drop our kids off, we expect them to be safe. Please, just keep our children safe,” the parent said.

After fielding questions, Little Beginnings Bangalay reassured families on Tuesday of the measures in place to ensure children’s safety.

These include Working With Children checks that are verified every six months, up to date Child Safety policies, visible changing tables and bathrooms, and their beyond regulatory requirements of having educators and children within sight at all times.

A review of the childcare system in Victoria is underway and a parliamentary inquiry has been called in NSW.

Childcare advocates are also calling for a national register and greater scrutiny over Working With Children Check applications.

Personal mobile phones are to be banned by Victorian childcare centres by 26 September with other states expected to soon follow.

*If you suspect child abuse or neglect at a childcare centre in NSW, contact the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 or call police.

By Rikki WALLER