Brisbane daycare artwork fee proposal draws backlash as police probe and government reviews

A Brisbane daycare that recently entered voluntary administration and subsequently closed is facing intense scrutiny after a fundraising plan that would charge families about $2,200 per child for art portfolios, purportedly to cover unpaid teacher wages. Craigslea Community Kindergarten and Preschool, which serves three- to five-year-olds, owed about $46,000 in the last financial year and was placed into voluntary administration before its closure. The centre receives support from the not-for-profit group C&K Childcare and Kindergarten and is managed by a volunteer committee.

Under the arrangement discussed by the management committee, parents were asked to participate in a fundraiser by purchasing each child’s portfolio for roughly $2,200, with the email stating that if parents opposed the move they should indicate so. The committee said the portfolios were being used to address a shortfall in staff salaries, with the administrator or liquidator potentially offering the items for free at a later date. The email also noted that the portfolios were the property of the association and that the funds would help cover the shortfall in wages. A government-verified copy of the email and related communications were reported to be circulating among families and supporters.

Queensland Police confirmed it is investigating after a parent was accused of stealing her child’s portfolio from the centre earlier this month. The parent told the Courier Mail that a committee member had reported a break-and-enter to police and accused her of stealing. In that interview, the parent said the interaction left her stunned by how the matter had unfolded and said the portfolio involved was created by teachers as part of their employment.

The issue has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli called the move “pretty un-Australian” and described it as emotional blackmail. He told the Today Show that while he could not relate to the specific situation, “they mean something to you. It’s special. It’s an achievement,” and stressed that parents should be allowed to take home their children’s art. Crisafulli further said there are better things to worry about and urged that the items be given back to families.

Officials with the Queensland Department of Education said they are aware of communications about the fundraising activity. A department spokesperson noted that under the Education and Care Services National Regulations, parents may request documentation relating to their child at no cost, and that there is no requirement to pay a fee for materials such as portfolios. The department said it would monitor the situation as part of its oversight responsibilities.

The centre’s status as a not-for-profit operation, and its reliance on a volunteer committee, has complicated the response from families and supporters who argue that pressuring parents to purchase art created during the school’s operations is inappropriate, especially as the centre’s closure leaves many families scrambling for alternatives. The administration has indicated that portfolios are the intellectual property of the association and that funds raised would go toward rectifying the staff-salary shortfall.

Daily Mail reported that the centre was operated with support from C&K, but the organization had not yet provided comment on the fundraising plan or the broader dissolution process. The department’s inquiry and the police investigation are ongoing as families seek clarity on what happens to the portfolios and whether they will be distributed to parents without charge or through alternative arrangements.

The controversy has sparked debate about the ethics of fundraising tied to children’s art, the appropriate use of intellectual property generated in school environments, and the responsibilities of voluntary associations during financial distress. As the investigation continues, families and educators alike will be watching for resolution and guidance on how portfolios—an emblem of a child’s early learning—will be handled going forward.