Criminal charges against G8 Education Limited for allegedly putting child’s safety at risk
Media release Published: Tuesday 27 January 2026 at 3:30 pm
The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has charged G8 Education Limited in relation to multiple alleged breaches by Community Kids Hoppers Crossing Early Education Centre service.
VECRA has charged G8 Education Limited with a total of 5 offences in relation to an alleged incident where a child with diagnosed disabilities exited the service and was unaccounted for a period of time.
The child was allegedly found a distance from the service by two members of the public in the middle of a busy road where there was fast moving traffic.
The charges relate to 5 offences under the Education and Care Services National Law (the National Law) and Regulations:
- Breach of section 165 - Offence to inadequately supervise children
- Beach of 167 - Offence relating to protection of children from harm and hazards
- Breach of Section 168 - Offence relating to required programs
- Breach of Section 51 - Conditions on service approval
- Breach of regulation 103 - Premises, furniture and equipment to be safe, clean and in good repair.
If found proven, these offences carry a potential aggregate penalty of $197,300 under the National Law.
As criminal proceedings are ongoing, VECRA is unable to provide further details about the allegations or comment further until proceedings are concluded.
Quotes attributable to Adam Fennessy PSM, Interim Early Childhood Regulator:
“When children’s safety is put at risk, VECRA will not hesitate to hold services accountable.”
“These charges against G8 Education’s service in Hoppers Crossing are very serious given the significant risk to the child.”
“Parents are entitled to trust that their children are safe when attending an early childhood service.”
“As these matters are now before the court, we are unable to comment further.”
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
Early childhood education and care
Updated 7 April 2026
About the VIC Government
- The Premier and ministers
- Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
- Strategies and policies
- Inquiries and royal commissions
Grants and programs
Jobs and careers
Arts, culture and heritage
Business and the workplace
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victoria’s racing industry
- Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
- Liquor licensing, sale and supply
Communities
- Children
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Finding records
- Gender equality & women’s leadership
- LGBTIQA+ equality
- Multicultural communities
- Seniors Online
- Veterans support and commemoration
- Volunteering in Victoria
- Youth Central
Education and training
- Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
- Early childhood education – information for professionals
- Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
- Education – information for parents
- Schools.Vic - information for schools
- Education grants, programs, awards and events
- PROTECT
- TAFE, training and universities sector
- TAFE Victoria
- Victorian Skills Authority
- Apprenticeships Victoria
- Learn Local
Environment, water and energy
Finance and economy
Health and social support
- Family violence reform
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
- Patient Review Panel
- Transforming Trauma Victoria
Housing and property
Law and justice
- Adoption
- Births, deaths and marriages
- Honorary justices
- Machete ban
- Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
- Stolen Generations Reparations Package
- Victims of Crime
- Victorian Racing Tribunal
Safety and emergencies
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
- Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
- Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
- How well do you know fire
- Fire Services Reform
- Water safety
- Marine Search and Rescue
Science and technology
- Data sharing and open data
- Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
- Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
- Go.vic URL shortener
- Vic Gov IT project dashboard
- Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
- Cyber security in the Victorian Government
Sport and recreation
Traffic and transport
- Cameras Save Lives
- Transport Fines
- Getting Around
- Transport Planning
- Transport Future
- Climate Change and transport
- Future Directions For Transport
- Transport projects
- Ports and Freight
Working in the Victorian Government
- Single Digital Presence home
- Accommodation and Library Services
- Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
- Budget, procurement and funding
- Careers in the Victorian Government
- Council and Regulator Toolkit
- Guidelines for working in government
- Join a government network
- Standards and guidelines
- VicFleet CarPool
- Victorian Government style guide