Statement from Ignite Minds regarding the VECRA suspension notice for 90 days from 5:00pm 21 August 2026 to 19 November 2026.
For the past 12 years, it has been our privilege to serve the Ignite Minds community. We are deeply grateful for the trust families have placed in us, and we cherish the countless laughs, memories, and enduring partnerships we have built with our educators, families, and the children in our care. Our community is built on a shared commitment to child safety, honesty and humanity, and this foundation remains the heart of everything we do.
We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to our dedicated staff, with a special acknowledgement of those team members who have been with us for 7 and 8 years, whose unwavering commitment has been instrumental in building the service we have today.
Ignite Minds takes the safety and wellbeing of children with the utmost seriousness. We acknowledge that the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) recently inspected 30 of our family day care residences and identified compliance deficiencies at some locations. Where specific concerns were raised, we have taken immediate action.
However, we strongly dispute the necessity of the immediate, blanket suspension of our entire service. We believe this disproportionate action disrupts care across our network and does not serve the interests of the children or the families who form this wonderful community.
We are actively working through our options to address these allegations and are cooperating with the regulator. We are particularly concerned that this suspension was issued while Ignite Minds was already in the process of submitting evidence of rectification and responding to the VECRA allegations. It is standard regulatory practice to collaborate with providers to clarify issues before resorting to public allegations, and we hope to restore that collaborative approach.
It is important to clarify that this is a regulatory decision, not a final judicial determination, and we are exercising our statutory rights to have this decision reviewed.
We recognise that this news may be distressing, and we are truly sorry for the uncertainty it causes our families. We are dedicated to full transparency and will provide updates as new information becomes available. We thank our community for their continued patience and support as we navigate this challenge.
How can you help?
We have been overwhelmed by expressions of support from families who are wanting to help. Your support has truly uplifted our spirits at this time.
- Send us a written testimonial
- Read VECRA letter to families here
- Make an impact statement to VECRA
- Keep in touch via Facebook
Media Contact:
Ujjval Goble
Director