In a letter recently sent to the families who had been using the service, its approved provider Marianne Girgis indicated it would be “closing down in its current form”.
The heading of the letter was ‘Cancellation of service approval’.
The NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority has since confirmed the service approval was “voluntarily surrendered”.
“We understand the impact service closures have on families, but children’s safety must come first,” the authority spokesperson said.
It brings two months of uncertainty to an end, after Deniliquin ELC was ‘temporarily’ closed at the end of July.
The announcement came just one day after a visit from the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority, which “identified several areas of non-compliance, which we are investigating”.
The areas of non-compliance have never been publicly revealed.
Since then, Deniliquin Police have charged two of the centre’s former staff with assault.
Both charges stem from an alleged incident in November last year, where a five year-old girl was allegedly sprayed with water and had water tipped over her from a bottle.
No formal connection between the suspension of services and the police matters have been confirmed.
In her letter to centre families, Ms Girgis said the decision to officially close was “not made lightly”.
“Over time, it has become clear that the service has not consistently met the high regulatory standards and legislative expectations that are required of early childhood education and care in New South Wales,” the letter said.
“As the approved provider, we believe the best way forward is to cancel current operations and completely rebuild the service in a way that ensures full compliance with the law, transparency, and the very best outcomes for children and families.
“While this is the end of the service in its current form, it also represents a new beginning. Our goal is to re-establish a service that reflects best practice, integrity, and a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive.”
The Pastoral Times reached out to Ms Girgis to provide further information on the reasons for the closure and future plans. She did not respond.
A spokesperson from the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority said anyone wishing to reopen a childcare service on the site would need to go through the standard application process.
The spokesperson also confirmed that the authority would “continue to investigate concerns raised about the Deniliquin service”, and encouraged affected families requiring more information and support to access alternative education and care providers to contact them.
But there are no vacant childcare or preschool places in Deniliquin, with 69 per cent of local children already unable to access care before the closure.
Four of the 29 families impacted by the Deniliquin ELC closure have found care through the recent expansion of Intereach’s Family Day Care program.
The others are still in limbo, with many having to rely on friends and family but being left without access to formal education.
Longer-term solutions are on the agenda, with three new facilities proposed to be established in the next two years.
Deniliquin will receive one new preschool thanks to a NSW Government investment, but the service co-located with Deniliquin South School is not expected to open until 2027.
Edward River Council last week received a $1 million funding pledge from Yanco Delta Wind Farm proponents Origin Energy for the development of a new childcare centre.
The timing of construction is unknown, as the funding being delivered is dependent on the wind farm project obtaining its full funding agreements.
Melos Group, which will open the Riverina Christian College in Deniliquin from early next year, has also pledged to open an early learning centre on the site.
Originally included in its long term strategic plan, Melos Group executive principal Phillip Nash this week said they are discussing bringing the project forward to be opened in 2026.
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