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A bitter dispute at a Brisbane kindergarten has led to parents keeping their children at home following concerns there may be insufficient management to run the centre.
Thomas D’Souza, volunteer management committee figure at Craigslea Kindergarten. Credit: Facebook
C&K, as the central governing body, confirmed to this masthead it was investigating claims that a parent was running the Craigslea Community Kindergarten in Chermside West on his own.
But Thomas D’Souza, the parent at the centre of the claims, has dismissed the concerns, insisting additional people are involved in making managerial decisions, and that C&K does not have authority over the community-run kindergarten.
This masthead has been told by multiple parents of festering tensions at the kindergarten, which led to the committee’s president, vice-president and secretary resigning in August.
This left D’Souza, the former treasurer, to assume control of the committee.
The conflict has also extended to staff, with the entire team being removed in recent weeks and replaced by temporary workers as D’Souza brought a complaint to the Fair Work Commission alleging workers launched unprotected industrial action.
A published decision by the commission noted the workers were instead ill, with some presenting medical certificates.
The commissioner’s decision said, “there appears to have been an escalating dispute between members of the Craigslea Kindergarten management committee and employees over the past few months”.
Exasperated parents told this masthead they were devastated by the state of the management of the once-idyllic kindergarten, which has been adored by families in the community for generations, including Holly Robinson, who has a neurodivergent child who she said had thrived at the facility.
Multiple parents said they now refused to send their children to the kindy out of concern relating to the management and the unfamiliarity of temporary staff. Instead, they are staying home from work, worrying that their children’s crucial development has been jeopardised before prep in the new year.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” Robinson told this masthead.
“It’s a well-loved space in the community, and the fact that something like this can actually happen is devastating for so many people.”
Robinson said her family had specifically chosen Craigslea because of its community reputation after moving from a mainstream childcare centre.
Before the dispute, she said her daughter had been thoroughly supported by the dedicated services offered by staff, but she no longer felt comfortable sending her daughter to kindy – along with multiple parents who have spoken to this masthead.
“We’re all working overtime to try and do the best we can to get things back up and running, but, as it stands, it’s a one-man show, and it’s really quite concerning that it has even been allowed to go on for as long as it has,” Robinson said.
Craigslea Kindergarten in Chermside West.Credit: Online
A C&K spokeswoman said Craigslea was operated by a volunteer management committee consisting of parents and community members, and the association did not have a role in the day-to-day operations.
But it confirmed parents and staff had raised concerns about an apparent shortage of volunteer members for the managing committee.
“Given the seriousness of the concerns, C&K has paused funding to Craigslea Community Kindergarten and referred the matter to the Department of Education,” the spokeswoman said.
“C&K is working closely with the Department of Education to support Craigslea Community Kindergarten in resuming its wonderful, high-quality early childhood program, so Brisbane’s northside families can continue to benefit for many years to come.”
But D’Souza, through a response from the kindergarten, denied the allegations and declared C&K did not have the jurisdiction to determine how a committee is comprised.
“The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to determine association disputes and, to date, the association’s solicitors have not been served with any such application,” he said.
“We have not been served any complaints under the association’s grievance procedure.
“There are sufficient numbers on the management committee.”
The response also confirmed the kindergarten was currently operating with replacement temporary staff.
“These are sourced from the same employment agency that the association has hired temps from for years,” D’Souza said.
“Nothing spectacular here, everyone has had a substitute teacher while they are at school.”
This masthead contacted the Department of Education.
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