‘I felt sick’: Parents scramble as uni axes daycare centre

4 hours ago 4

Staff and parents of children at Griffith University’s childcare centres have been left reeling after being told on Thursday the centres would close within two months.

The university runs two early childcare education centres, Boronia and Tallowwood, on its Nathan campus, caring for children aged from three months to five years.

Griffith said the buildings needed to be closed for renovations, and would cease operations on December 17. Staff members would remain for an additional two days, working to pack down the centre.

Parents who had filled in 2026 enrolment forms in late September were told on Thursday the centre would shut down by Christmas.

Both parents and Griffith staff members were notified of the “proposed changes” via two memos sent out shortly before 10am on Thursday, with one parent saying that when they arrived to collect their child on Thursday afternoon the centre staff were visibly upset.

Another parent, who asked to remain anonymous because he was also a Griffith employee, told this masthead he “felt sick” for the childcare workers – some of whom had been working there for almost three decades.

“My daughter learnt to walk through daycare, and is learning to talk there too,” he said.

“The long-term service and dedication of those at the centre, and the love and education they give to our children ... [the staff] deserve a lot better than that.”

He said the centre had sent out enrolment notices for 2026 on September 5, and finalised them two weeks before the announcement the centre would close.

“We filled out the form, and even put one in for the baby coming in December,” he said.

Staff members, who account for a high proportion of the parents at Griffith’s childcare centres, were now considering flexible leave arrangements to care for their children in the new year.

The childcare centres offer salary-packaging for Griffith University staff members, who comprise a large proportion of the parent body.

A Griffith University spokesperson said the centres would reopen in the first half of 2026, and would be leased to a third-party operator.

“The centres would leverage the third-party operator’s expertise to provide a high-quality childcare on campus, available to our staff, students, and the wider community,” the spokesperson said.

In its memo sent to Griffith University staff members, the institution said the changes came as part of the institution’s review of “assets that no longer align with our core mission of delivering high-quality tertiary education and research”.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” the memo read.

“Several options for continuing the service were explored, including partnering with a local provider or exploring different ways of operating within the university.

“However, these options did not offer a clear pathway to upgrade facilities, improve services and expertise in operations and regulatory compliance.”

Griffith would not name the private company expected to lease the site from next year, but said commercial negotiations were under way.

“We acknowledge the impact this proposal will have on our childcare centre staff and the families who use the service,” the Griffith spokesperson said.

“We are working to support staff who are impacted with a range of flexible arrangements.”

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