The abrupt closure of several Genius Childcare centres around Australia is a reminder to choose your early learning service carefully, and trust your instincts if something feels off.        

BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

MARCH 13, 2025

Genius Childcare has been in the news recently, with mass resignations and a staff walkout causing the sudden closure of their Pyrmont service in Sydney.  

Now, news.com.au reports that a Genius centre in Perth’s Hamilton Hill has closed its doors due to ‘unexpected staffing challenges,’ while a Genius centre in Sydney’s Artarmon remains closed for the same unsettling reason.  

These abrupt closures have left childcare families in the lurch, and there are reports that Genius Childcare’s educators are out of pocket for wages and superannuation. 

A company that provided casual educators to Genius centres around Canberra is also owed big money by the childcare provider, meaning the emotional, logistical and financial impact of the Genius closures is being felt around the nation.  

And that’s not all.  

News.com.au says, ‘There appear to be 13 centres that have now been closed across Australia including in Victoria, NSW, the ACT and South Australia, often abruptly, with little or no notice for parents.’ 

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by these closures, and the developing crisis at Genius Childcare is a reminder to choose your early learning service carefully, and trust your instincts if something feels off.  

This KindiCare article explains seven key considerations when choosing childcare, and we encourage you to get a feel for each prospective service by doing a tour and speaking to different staff members in person.  

You want to be sure that the employees at your prospective service are happy and dedicated, and the childcare family united. 

If you detect unease, indifference or outright negativity from team members, this gives you a strong clue that all is not well at the centre.  

So, feel free to ask questions like, “Does your centre have high staff turnover?”, “What do you love about working at this centre?” or “Is there anything I should know about this centre and its operation?” 

The responses you get (through words and body language) will tell you a lot about the state of play at the service, and if morale seems low and tensions high, this service probably isn’t the one for you.  

If you’re enrolled at a Genius Childcare centre, now’s a good time to check in with staff to see how everyone’s travelling. 

And if you’re wondering where all the Genius Childcare centres are around Australia, it’s easy to search for this brand using the KindiCare App or Childcare Comparison Website.