<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/childcare" rel="" target="" title="early childhood education"><span>early childhood education</span></a><span> centre where accused paedophile Joshua Brown briefly worked will be shut down for three months due to child safety concerns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milestones Early Learning Werribee was today given a notice of suspension by the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) for 90 days after "a range of serious and concerning examples of non-compliance" were identified by the childcare watchdog.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>VECRA claims there was "limited access" to educational or play resources and outdoor spaces for children to play at the centre in Melbourne's west, which is owned by childcare giant Affinity Education Group.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-update-close-friend-says-he-thought-fugitive-had-died-seven-months-ago/87325bad-460c-4fac-ba27-41ba8ce555fe" rel="" target="" title="'Thought he was dead': Dezi Freeman's close friend's shock after fugitive found"><strong><span>'Thought he was dead': Dezi Freeman's close friend's shock after fugitive found</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Furniture was allegedly in a "state of disrepair" that posed hazards to children, including exposed, broken grates, ripped and torn furniture, peeling paint, exposed electrical cords, hazardous power cord arrangements and broken door latches and guards.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorised VECRA officers allegedly identified several children under 12 months old left unsupervised in a room.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also allegedly failed to notify VECRA of multiple incidents "that are required to be reported by law".</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/victorian-early-childhood-education-watchdog-milestones-early-learning-werribee-three-month-suspension/c93dff12-42c6-4345-8df4-fd66b89de7d3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A subsequent compliance check found new issues, VECRA claims, including the premises, furniture and equipment not being safe, clean and in good repair and unsafe sleep practices for babies at the service.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Affinity Education Group had rectified some of the issues, VECRA alleged there "continues to be significant compliance issues that put the health, safety and wellbeing of children at risk".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"VECRA is simply not satisfied that Affinity Education Group has the necessary management and oversight mechanisms in place at this service to ensure that the non-compliances identified will not happen again," the Authority said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The suspension of 90 days is to allow time for Affinity Education Group to undertake the required work to improve their systems, programs and facilities so they are safe for children and are compliant with the law."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-it-takes-two-to-taco-usa-iran-war-latest-news/420dd38d-8d0a-45bf-91df-72b06326fe23" rel="" target="" title="It takes two to TACO: Why Trump can't end war with Iran by himself"><strong><span>It takes two to TACO: Why Trump can't end war with Iran by himself</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The centre has been given 14 days' notice and will close for 90 days from April 13, Affinity Education confirmed in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Affinity acknowledges that this outcome falls short of both regulatory expectations and the standards we set for our centres," an Affinity Education Group spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We apologise for the disruption this will cause families and educators."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The childcare provider claimed it had rectified 90 per cent of the issues outlined by VECRA at the Werribee centre prior to its suspension.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This included revised room layouts to strengthen supervision arrangements, repairs completed to equipment and facilities, improved capabilities around facilities management to ensure a more consistent standard is maintained and remedial training and refresher courses on appropriate policies and practices at the centre," the spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"More work, however, clearly needs to be done and further remediation work is underway and we will work closely with the regulator while this is completed."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If the Affinity Group fails to make compliance changes, it could face a more than $1 million penalty and the centre could be permanently shut down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/jackie-o-files-lawsuit-against-arn-media/9defc00f-9e9c-4734-b7e6-387fecf4485c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Jackie 'O' files $82 million lawsuit after radio contract torn up</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The safety, wellbeing, and continued access to quality care for children remains our highest priority," the Affinity Education Group spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Affinity will continue to work closely with VECRA and provide updates as this process progresses."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Affinity said it was working closely with families to arrange alternative care arrangements at nearby centres.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>VECRA was established on January 1 as part of a series of reforms targeting the childcare industry after more than 70 child sex charges were laid against former childcare worker Joshua Brown in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milestones Early Learning Werribee is one of 23 centres where accused childcare rapist Joshua Brown worked between January 2017 and May 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Brown is accused of more than 150 child sexual abuse-related charges against 12 alleged victims.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Records show Brown worked at the Werribee centre on August 14 to 16 in 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He is not accused of any offending at the Werribee centre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a 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