Emergency action notice issued by the NSW Early Learning Commission and directing the immediate closure of childcare centre 3 December 2025 due to rat infestation and mould. As of 12 December, zero information has been shared with affected parents as to the extent of the issue and the type of mould, to inform the appropriate medical advice required. This is a blatant disregard to the health and safety of children under the care of Affinity Group.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.12.02
We are so thrilled to hear your little one is thriving with us, Anna! It means the world to know our educatorsâ care and patience shine through, and that our centre managerâs support makes a difference. Thank you for sharing your experience and for recommending us, it truly brightens our day!
Hem samal2025.10.02
We are happy about the services provided by the team. Supportive and professional team.
Clear and honest communication between parents about the issues and concerns.
Quick response on time and problems solving culture.
Kid is happy.đ
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.10.02
Thank you for your kind feedback, Hem! It is so wonderful to hear your little one is thriving and happy with us. We are proud of our teamâs commitment to clear communication and responsive care, and it means the world to know that has been your experience. We are truly grateful for the trust you have placed in us.
Eloisa Tordi2025.09.30
Both my girls have been at Milestones since May and we couldnât find better centre for them!
All staff are so caring and supportive and they really go above and beyond to ensure my Children feel safe and comfortable.
Sarah and her team are such unique and amazing Educators!
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.09.30
Hearing how your girls feel safe and supported with us truly means everything, Eloisa! Sarah and her team bring such heart and dedication to each day, and it is so wonderful to know that shines through. We are so thankful to be part of your familyâs story and love watching your little ones grow with us.
Charlotte Walsh2025.09.30
This centre is the best set-up i have seen, completely covered outdoor areas which means the kids aren't stuck inside on a rainy day.
The staff are excellent and so caring, and the centre manager Nicole cares so much about constantly improving the centre.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.09.30
It is so rewarding to hear how much the thoughtful design and care from our team have made a difference for your family, Charlotte! Rain or shine, we love creating spaces where children can explore freely and feel truly supported. Nicoleâs passion for continuous improvement is at the heart of everything we do. Thank you for noticing and taking the time to share, it means the world!
Corey Lillie2025.09.29
Staff at the center are amazing but the company are a massive letdown.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.10.13
Hi Corey, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are thrilled to hear our centre team has made such a positive impression, they truly care about the children and families they support. We are sorry to hear your broader experience hasnât met expectations. If you would like to share more, please contact us at feedback@affinityeducation.com.au so we can look into it further. Thank you.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.10.06
Hi Andrew, we are disappointed to hear your experience hasnât been a positive one. We would appreciate the opportunity to understand more and see how we can improve. Please reach out to us at feedback@affinityeducation.com.au. Thank you.
Jessica Obers2025.09.25
We have found the entire team at Milestones Macquarie to be amazing! We did a few stay and plays to get comfortable before our first day, and it really cemented that we made the right choice - after touring 4 centres. Our son loves going and it really puts us at ease knowing how happy he is. The team are very accommodating and really invest in the children.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.09.25
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jessica! It means the world to know your family felt confident from the very start, and that your little one is thriving with us. We are so glad those stay-and-play visits helped you feel confident in your choice. It is a joy to support his journey, and we are truly grateful to be part of your familyâs story.
Season Moroney2025.09.16
Disappointing and Unprofessional Experience
Our experience with Affinity was deeply disappointing, and weâre relieved to see others speaking out. From the beginning, we felt misled and unheard as parents.
With our 4-year-old son, his educators assured us he was ready for school despite our hesitation. When we enrolled him, the principal disagreed, so we provided the educatorsâ details for confirmationâonly to later discover they had actually told the principal he *wasnât* ready but claimed *we* were insisting against their advice. This manipulation damaged our reputation at the school, and the teacher outright refused to properly teach him, leaving us no choice but to withdraw him. Now homeschooling, heâs made significant progress, proving how poorly Affinity handled his needs.
Our second childâs experience was just as concerning. The centre rarely shared photos, dismissively saying theyâd only have images of him "crying in the sandpit." When we asked about moving him to preschool early, they claimed toilet training wasnât an issueâyet repeatedly sent him home in the same nappy, once with urine-soaked clothes stuffed in his bag. Multiple times, we found him alone, asleep on the classroom floor. The lack of care was appalling.
After noticing a decline in his emotional well-being, we withdrew him. Despite contacting head office repeatedlyâvia email and phoneâwe were promised follow-ups that never came.
Affinity failed our children at every level: communication, education, and basic care. We urge other parents to consider these red flags carefully.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.10.13
Thank you for sharing such detailed feedback, Season. We are sorry to hear that your experience left you feeling misled and unsupported, especially during such important transitions for your children. We understand how deeply these moments matter to families, and we take concerns like yours seriously. To ensure this is followed up appropriately, we encourage you to reach out to our team at feedback@affinityeducation.com.au so we can look into this further and offer the support you deserve. Thank you.
Jason Ireland2025.09.05
Little Beginnings Fernhill has been extremely accomodating for my son. The educators have been so supportive wire his transition into care at 6 months. Highly recommend this service to the Port Macquarie community
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.09.07
Thank you for your beautiful words, Jason, it means so much to know your little one has felt safe and supported from such an early age. Our team is passionate about creating a nurturing space for every child and family. We are so thrilled to have been part of your journey and truly appreciate your recommendation to the Port Macquarie community.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.08.21
Hi Brayden, we are disappointed to hear your experience hasnât been a positive one. We would appreciate the opportunity to understand more and see how we can improve. Please feel free to reach out at feedback@affinityeducation.com.au. Thank you.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.08.18
Hi Parker, we are sorry to see that your experience didnât meet expectations. If you would like to share more about your concerns, please reach out to us at feedback@affinityeducation.com.au. We would appreciate the opportunity to understand more and see how we can improve. Thank you.
Kloe Malley2025.08.01
I highly recommend Aussie Kindies Blue Haven! We've never had a negative experience at all. All of the girls love and care for my son as if he is their own. My son has thrived since being there, I've watched him become more confident and his speech come leaps and bounds. It's a beautiful, clean and caring centre and I couldn't recommend them enough.
Those girls work so hard every day and are so under appreciated and underpaid. My son has gone from holding onto my leg and screaming to waking up every day excited to see his educators whom he's formed the most beautiful bonds with.
I want to thank Kaylee, Cami, Ella, Tegan and Tiahnna especially for all they do for us and for loving our little guy as if he is their ownâ¤ď¸
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.08.03
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, Kloe! Watching your little one grow in confidence and joy has been such a privilege, and we are so grateful for the trust you have placed in us. Kaylee, Cami, Ella, Tegan, and Tiahnna will be so moved to hear how much their love and care mean to your family. It is families like yours that make what we do so special.
Stefanie S2025.07.31
My kid was there for roughly 5 months. Such a great experience there !
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.07.31
Thank you for sharing your experience, Stefanie! It is truly lovely to hear your time with us was so positive! and we are thrilled your little one felt happy and supported during those months. It has been a joy having your family as part of our Papilio Bruce community.
P Chan2025.07.17
My son has been in two daycares that was acquired by Affinity group. Every time this happened, there would be a huge drop in the quality of care. Good educators would all leave and new educators that simply did not care about the children would join.
Staff would openly complain about management and how understaffed they were. Canât believe I had to change daycares twice because of affinity. Honestly ruined all trust
I had with daycares in general. As a mum, I genuinely ask that if you read this, avoid them at all costs.
Giving them one star because I canât give negative stars.
To the management: stop being greedy. Think about your children, the children in your family and ask yourself - would you put them in the daycares owned by your group. I think not.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.08.07
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are sorry to hear that your journey with us has left you feeling this way and we understand how deeply this impacts your trust, especially as a parent. Please know that our educators work with heart and dedication every day, and we are continually reviewing our practices to ensure the best outcomes for families. If you would like to share more, please reach out to us directly at feedback@affinityeducation.com.au. Thank you.
Made Pl2025.07.15
The educators were nice enough. But the centre took photos of our child and uploaded them to their "keeping in touch" app without our permission. 2024.
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.08.07
We are truly sorry to hear about your concerns and understand how important privacy is to every family. We will be reviewing our procedures to ensure families continue to feel safe and supported. If you would like to share anything further, please reach out to us at feedback@affinityeducation.com.au. Thank you.
CL âGenieâ C2025.07.15
All the educators in the Papilio Bruce are excellent, esp. Zam, Miss Affi, Rita, Ms Yuki and the Korean educator etc. We can always see how much educators put efforts on every children, our boy felt safe and happy there. and now moving forward to his new journey đ
Reply from Affinity Education Group Limited2025.07.15
It is so heart warming to hear your little one felt safe and happy with us, Genie. Zam, Miss Affi, Rita, Ms Yuki, and the rest of our wonderful educators will be touched by your kind words. Every child holds a special place in our hearts, and we are so proud to have been part of this chapter in his journey. Wishing you and your family all the best as he steps into his next adventure!
Stay away from their childcare services
We had a very negative experience with their childcare services. I would strongly advise others to exercise caution before enrolling in any of their centers, whether in Sydney or elsewhere
If I could give less than 1 star, I would.
Donât be misled by the high ratings - many are paid. Please look beyond the surface.
Papilio Essendon is part of the Affinity Education Group, a for-profit organisation that acquires struggling centres. Unfortunately, their focus appears to be more on business growth than on quality care or safety.
There is little regard for proper training, safety standards or experienced leadership. Instead, they hire inexperienced educators and rotate staff across centres without transparency. One example is Joshua Brown, who worked at multiple Affinity centres before his arrest. Instead of action being taken, it felt like he was quietly moved around almost as if being promoted.
The group's leadership, including Wayne Meredith (GM), has shown zero accountability. When concerned parents sought answers, he was nowhere to be seen - hiding in an office rather than addressing the community. Not even an apology was offered.
Affinity centres, in our experience, operate behind a facade of compliance, while core issues around child safety and wellbeing are ignored or covered up.
Do your research. Your childâs safety is too important to trust to this group.
Trust grows at the speed of a coconut tree and falls at the speed of a coconut (Caribbean proverb).
This poem reflects our familyâs experience at an Affinity Education Group day-care service.
In halls of power, sleek and tall,
Where profits rise and children fall,
A family knockedâa simple plea,
Met with silence, policy.
A child so bright, yet pushed aside,
No space, no room, no chance to try.
Not for cause, nor reason clear,
Just locked-out rules enforced by fear.
His brotherâs healthâa heavyweight,
His parents begged but met with fate.
Not for favours, not for grace,
Just fairness, justice, rightful place.
Yet doors stayed shut, the answers thin,
A corporate script, rehearsed within.
Exclusion dressed in hollow lines,
A system built to blur the crimes.
A child cast out, a wall made steep,
A family left alone to weep.
Not by accident or chance,
But choices madeâdenied advance.
The parents spoke, they took a stand,
No empty words, no shaking hands.
Not seeking war, but truth exposed,
No justice found where kindness froze.
Still, they rise, they wonât retreat,
They fight for more than just a seat.
Not against, but for whatâs right,
For every child to stand and fight.
Verified Company
