Individual fined $6,000 for providing and advertising a service without a service approval

Toni Ferris has been fined $6,000 for providing an education and care service without a service approval.

No conviction was recorded.

On 6 December 2023, the Department of Education—as Queensland's Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (Regulatory Authority)—executed a search warrant following information received about an unapproved child care service.

An investigation found that Ms Ferris had been providing education and care to children without the required service approval and had also been advertising the service in breach of the Education and Care Services National Law. As a result, the Regulatory Authority took legal action against Ms Ferris.

Ms Ferris pleaded guilty to 2 charges:

1. Section 103 of the National Law—offence to provide an education and care service without service approval
2. Section 104 of the National Law—offence to advertise education and care service without service approval.

The fine of $6,000 reflects the seriousness of these offences and upholds the objectives and guiding principles of the National Law, including to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children.

On 3 December 2025, in deciding the defendant's guilt and sentence, Magistrate Jessica Keir considered the important role of the regulator, Ms Ferris' obstructiveness on the execution of the search warrant, the purposes of the National Law and the paramount interests of children, and that a sentence imposed needed to be consistent with deterring Ms Ferris and others from committing similar offences.

This prosecution sends a strong message to individuals that if they intend to operate an early childhood education and care service they must comply with the requirements of the National Law.

This is also an important reminder to families that they should always undertake checks to ensure their children are in regulated care—regulation ensures accountability for children's safety and wellbeing.

The Regulatory Authority will not hesitate to take regulatory action and hold individuals to account when they are operating in breach of their legal req​uirements.