Parents given 12 hours' notice of Melbourne daycare closure

Parents in Avondale Heights were given just 12 hours' notice that their local daycare center would be closing permanently, leaving many scrambling for alternative child care options. The Avondale Heights Child Care and Early Learning Centre, operated by SSB Advisory, informed families via text message at 6:40pm last night that the facility would cease operations immediately. The liquidator cited the intended buyer's inability to settle the contract as the reason for the center's liquidation, which had fallen through.

Parents expressed frustration over the last-minute notice, with some alleging it left them with limited choices for alternative childcare arrangements, especially since the message was sent outside regular business hours. Kelli, a parent at the daycare, described the closure as a complete surprise, causing panic among the community of parents. She had to inform her employer that she could not work due to the sudden disruption and is now trying to retrieve her child's belongings and cancel direct debit payments.

The liquidator apologized for the stress and inconvenience caused, stating that the proposed sale had fallen through due to the buyer's inability to settle the contract. Some parents noted that the abrupt closure would have raised outrage in a school or kindergarten setting, where such a decision would be met with severe criticism. The center remained locked with children and families' belongings inside, and calls to the facility went unanswered on Wednesday morning.