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Team Holiday Pty Ltd faces criminal charges for allegations of putting children’s safety at risk

Media release Published: Friday 16 January 2026 at 10:00 am

The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) is bringing charges against approved provider Team Holiday Pty Ltd, who operate services under the business name TeamKids, for allegations of putting the safety of children at risk.

VECRA has charged Team Holiday with a total of 13 offences in relation to 4 separate alleged incidents, which carry a potential aggregate penalty of $746,200 under the Education and Care Services National Law (National Law).

Three incidents involved children exiting the early childhood service, including in one case where 2 children were unsupervised for between 60 to 70 minutes. During that time, in one alleged incident, the children crossed Hoddle Street and took a train before being returned to the service by one of their parents. In another alleged incident a child was left on a bus during an excursion for at least 43 minutes.

The alleged incidents include:

  1. TeamKids – Caulfield Junior College: a child exited the service premises and walked home unaccompanied. The service was only aware that the child was unsupervised, when the child was returned by a parent. The child was unaccounted for approximately 19 minutes.
  2. TeamKids – St Leonard’s College: during a planned excursion a child was left on a bus after everyone else had disembarked. The bus driver exited the bus and locked the door. When the bus driver returned to the bus, he found the child. The child was missing for at least 43 minutes.
  3. TeamKids – Richmond West Primary: two children exited the service and walked to one child’s home, then walked to West Richmond train station where they took a train to the second child’s home. The children were unsupervised for between 60 to 70 minutes when the children were returned to the service by a parent of the second child.
  4. TeamKids – Mitcham Primary: a child exited the services premises unnoticed by educators. The child was found by a member of the public who returned the child to the service. The child was unaccounted for approximately 42 minutes.

In relation to all alleged incidents, Team Holiday has been charged for multiple offences under the National Law, including under s165(1) relating to the inadequate supervision of children, s167(1) relating to the protection of children from harm and hazards, and s51(8) relating to service obligations ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of children being cared for.

In relation to the alleged incident at TeamKids Mitcham Primary, Team Holiday has also been charged for an offence under s169(1) relating to that service’s staffing arrangements. This is due to the service allegedly not meeting the correct ratio of educators on duty to supervise the children, including when the child exited the service.

If found proven the charges against Team Holiday carry a possible maximum aggregate penalty of $746,200.

VECRA has also charged YMCA of Ballarat Inc in respect to an alleged incident where 2 children exited their Birchip Early Learning Centre. In this case the 2 children were allegedly able to climb over the fence and were unsupervised for at least 30 minutes. This will be heard in the Magistrates Court on 24 April 2026.

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:

“VECRA won’t hesitate to take action against services that put children’s safety at risk.”

“These are serious charges against Team Holiday, that relate to the fundamental obligations of service providers to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children.”

“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

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