A childcare centre was thrown into chaos as staff protested their dismissal outside the building and police were called, leaving some parents considering withdrawing their kids.
Orchard Early Learning Centre in Bradbury, in southwest Sydney, terminated seven employees’ contracts on Friday after they refused to attend a meeting about abuse allegations at another childcare centre.
Orchard had no connection to Affinity Education, which was the subject of allegations of abuse that were investigated by ABC’s 7.30.
However the former director at Orchard’s Bradbury centre had previously worked at one of the Affinity centres with allegations against it, and brought several of its staff to Bradbury.
Along with the dismissals of seven staff, two other colleagues resigned on the same day, and some of then proceeded to protest outside the building.
‘There was a bunch of the staff outside along with police, and no parents were being called,’ mother Nicole Lea told The Daily Telegraph.
Ms Lea, whose toddler is enrolled at the centre, shared warnings on social media for parents to collect their children because of the reduced staff and police presence.
Another mother, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said she was considering pulling her kid out of the centre for good.
A childcare centre was thrown into chaos after staff protested outside the building and cops were called to the scene with parents threatening to remove their kids
The childcare centre said it continues to exceed recommended staff-to-child ratios, but added that others from Austral and Kirrawee services were deployed to offer further support.
NSW Police said officers were called to prevent a breach of the peace as the protest unfolded.
‘A small group of protestors were in the carpark of the premises and were requested to leave, which they complied (with),’ a spokeswoman said.
The group firing followed ABC’s 7.30 investigation into alleged staff misconduct at Affinity Education.
It revealed a shocking video from 2023 of a NSW childcare worker slapping a crying baby in the face.
Given some of Orchard Bradbury’s staff had previously worked at the Affinity centre being reported on,Orchard management organised meetings for those employees to discuss the alleged abusive incidents and to restate child protection protocols.
‘The meeting was then rescheduled twice to accommodate staff, but on both occasions staff declined to attend and communicate with management,’ Orchard said in a statement.
NSW Police said officers were called to prevent a breach of the peace as the protest unfolded (stock image)
‘As a result, Orchard took the decision to terminate the employment of the group,’ it said.
Two additional staff members then tendered their resignations.
Orchard has not accused staff of any wrongdoing in relation to those incidents, nor does this publication suggest they knew of them.
The centre said the dismissals were about non-attendance of the meetings, and made no connection between the laid-off staff and the Affinity incidents.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Orchard Early Learning Centre for comment.
