Brisbane kindergarten art fundraiser sparks uproar, alleged midnight break-in

Brisbane, Australia — Craigslea Community Kindergarten and Preschool in Brisbane sparked a national controversy this week after telling dozens of families they would need to contribute A$2,200 to take home a curated portfolio of their child’s artwork, billed as a fundraiser to help cover overdue bills, including wages for educators. The centre, which operates as a community-run site affiliated with the Creche and Kindergarten Association (C&K), had closed last month after funding was halted amid a governance investigation.

The dispute unfolded against a backdrop of governance turmoil. The centre had been run by a volunteer committee; last month tensions led to the resignations of the president, vice-president and secretary, leaving treasurer Thomas D'Souza to take charge. Under the new management, staff were replaced with temporary workers, prompting many families to remove their children. The C&K paused funding as authorities investigated the centre's operations.

On Sunday night, the kindergarten emailed families saying it could not pay its debts and had entered voluntary administration. Hours later, another message outlined a plan to sell the art portfolios for thousands of dollars each and invited parents opposed to the plan to email their concerns. Brooke, a parent at the centre, told Nine's A Current Affair that the move was unacceptable; she said she later reported the incident to police.

Australian police told BBC they were investigating reports of a midnight break-in at the kindergarten about two weeks earlier; authorities did not confirm whether the incident involved the art portfolios.

Public backlash followed on social media, and Queensland's premier criticized the request as un-Australian and wrong on many levels. A Department of Education spokesperson said parents have a legal right to access their child's documentation; under the Education and Care Services National Regulations, the approved provider must make documentation available on request.

Later that week, the Department of Education and C&K announced a recovery operation had retrieved the children's portfolios from the site. C&K said it condemns charging parents for the portfolios and that the records are now available for families to collect.

For families, the artworks carry emotional significance, and with portfolios now accessible, the immediate financial dispute at Craigslea has moved toward resolution, though questions about governance and oversight of community-run childcare remain.