Melbourne Chinese language school enters administration

Western Chinese Language School Inc, a not-for-profit community language school in Melbourne’s western suburbs, has entered voluntary administration amid financial pressure linked in part to historical employee underpayments.

Brent Morgan and Shane Cremin of Rodgers Reidy were appointed voluntary administrators on 9 June 2026. Classes were suspended following the appointment, affecting approximately 300 students, including 28 students enrolled in VCE Chinese Second Language and Chinese Second Language Advanced courses. The Victorian Department of Education has offered the affected VCE students places with another provider from Term 3.

The school council said the appointment followed legal and financial advice and was prompted by the school’s current financial position and potential future liabilities. Meeting notes reportedly identified continuing rent and wage expenses, together with an estimated liability of more than $400,000 for historical employee underpayments, although the total remains subject to further calculation. Teachers have also alleged that wages for May remain unpaid.

The administration follows the Full Federal Court’s dismissal in May of the school’s appeal concerning a Fair Work Ombudsman compliance notice. The underlying proceedings resulted in penalties of $13,320 against the school and $825 against a former volunteer chairperson for failing to calculate and pay entitlements owed to four teachers for work performed between 2016 and 2021. Those entitlements, including superannuation and interest, remained unpaid when the administrators were appointed.

The administrators are reviewing the school’s affairs and seeking expressions of interest from parties capable of supporting its educational and community services. However, creditors were reportedly told that a resumption of operations was unlikely. A second meeting of creditors is expected to be held in July.