Hundreds of families have been left without answers after a specialised early education provider for children with autism announced it had entered administration, closing all centres indefinitely.
AEIOU Foundation has been running early intervention programs and education for autistic children up to six years old since 2005, with centres in Brisbane and across Queensland, and more than 200 employed staff.
In an update posted to the foundation’s website on Wednesday, board of directors chair Mark Algie said the “difficult decision” had been made to appoint external administrators following “a sustained period of financial pressure across the disability sector”.
“Like many providers, AEIOU has experienced increasing costs, workforce challenges and significant changes in the funding environment that supports disability services,” Algie wrote.
“The board and leadership team have implemented a range of measures to strengthen the organisation’s sustainability … [including] operational restructuring, cost-management initiatives and efforts to adapt the organisation to a changing operating environment.
“Despite these efforts, the board has determined that entering administration is the most responsible course of action to allow an independent review of the organisation’s financial position and to consider the possible pathway forward.”
Brisbane mother Tia Jayde’s four-year-old son has level three autism, and started at AEIOU’s Logan centre in January after a lengthy battle to secure NDIS funding.
“It’s pretty much one of the only places in Queensland that do what they do,” Jayde said.
“He was completely nonverbal [before he started] … now he’s saying ‘mum’, he’s understanding things and wanting to play with other kids.”
Jayde received an email about 1.30pm on Wednesday notifying her the foundation had entered administration and that centres would be closed.
She said when her partner picked their son up about an hour later, staff were upset.
“They had no idea,” she said.
“He pretty much said all of them were just crying and saying goodbye and running around getting their stuff ready.”
Jayde spoke to one staff member on the phone who said they had been told to hand their keys in that afternoon, and that they no longer had jobs.
“It’s very upsetting … he’s been thriving there. Now we’re lost, there’s no guidance [on where to go],” she said.
Shontel Arthur’s son – also four years old with level three autism – started at AEIOU’s Bald Hills centre this year.
“For families like ours, AEIOU is not simply childcare. It is an intensive early intervention environment where children receive structured therapy and support,” Arthur said.
“The closure has left families without clear guidance on what happens next. There has been no transition plan provided for the children and no practical support offered to help families navigate alternative services.
“For autistic children who rely heavily on routine and familiar environments, the sudden loss of that structure is incredibly disruptive.”
Arthur said she received a letter from AEIOU and a memo about the centre’s closure, but had not received a reply to inquiries.
“This has created enormous uncertainty about where [our] children will go next and how they will continue accessing the support that was helping them make progress,” she said.
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