Parents of children attending a childcare center in Erina, New South Wales, have voiced anger and distress over allegations that their provider, Affinity Education, failed to disclose a significant rodent infestation and black mold problem. The company, which operates 225 centers nationwide under brands including Milestones, Papilio, and Kids Academy, is facing scrutiny after the Early Learning Commission suspended The Beach Early Learning Centre Erina on December 3, 2025, following tip-offs from whistleblowers.
According to a suspension notice obtained by the Daily Mail, the center posed an 'immediate risk to the health, safety or wellbeing' of children and represented a 'serious failure to maintain a safe and hygienic environment.' An active rodent infestation was documented, with droppings found in food preparation areas and on furniture. Persistent black mold was observed in a nursery, including areas where babies crawl and play, which officers believed had been present for at least three months. Despite daily cleaning and professional pest control efforts, the issues continued.
Staff at the center had reportedly raised concerns about the conditions as early as June 2025, with some reporting symptoms possibly related to exposure to rodent waste. The Commission's notice highlighted that children with respiratory conditions like asthma could be adversely affected by the environment.
Parents have accused Affinity Education of inadequate communication, with one parent stating, "They knew about it... while still charging us exorbitant fees." Another described the situation as feeling "dirty" and expressed rage over not knowing the full extent of their children's exposure to the hazardous conditions. They allege that communication was "played down" by the company.
Affinity Education acquired The Beach Early Learning Centre Erina in December 2024 as part of its expansion. The center has remained non-operational since its suspension and may not reopen until June 2027 due to extensive repairs. Affinity has stated that the center will not reopen until both the company and the NSW Early Learning Commission are satisfied that it is safe. The company has also been promoted online as a "warm, inclusive environment."
This incident adds to Affinity Education's lengthy record of compliance failures, breaches, and allegations, including reports from last year that an accused paedophile worked at 13 of its centers in Victoria. The company is currently banned from opening or selling further centers in NSW until all its sites meet required ratings, and its NSW centers face stricter child-to-educator ratios and mandatory CCTV installation.
Greens MP Abigail Boyd, Chair of NSW Parliament's Education Committee, described Affinity as "utterly untrustworthy" and called the Erina center a "perfect exemplar" of issues within the corporatized early childhood sector. She suggested that private equity-backed providers are "quite literally toxic."
Affinity Education is owned by Quadrant Private Equity. Since Quadrant's acquisition in 2021, the rate of breaches at Affinity centers has reportedly increased significantly compared to the state average. Affinity Education's financial details are not publicly disclosed, unlike those of publicly listed companies. The former CEO, Tim Hickey, who resigned less than a month after questioning by a parliamentary inquiry last year, was unable to confirm if his bonuses were affected by the rise in breaches. In a statement, Affinity apologized for the issues at the Erina center, acknowledging significant underlying structural issues and reaffirming its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children.