melbourne Gymnastics Club shuts Down Amid Child Safety Investigation
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A gymnastics club catering to children in Melbourne’s south-east has ceased operations following a child safety complaint lodged with Gymnastics Australia (GA). The abrupt closure of Funtastic Gymnastics in Berwick, effective Saturday, November 23, stems from allegations concerning a part-owner of the facility.
The situation unfolded rapidly after Gymnastics Australia issued a public statement Friday evening detailing the concerns. According to the statement, the complaint centered on “concerns about child safety and whether the part-owner was a fit and proper person to be involved in a gymnastics club.” A visit to the Berwick club Saturday morning revealed a sign stating, “Sorry we are closed and not reopening.”
Gymnastics Australia Initiates Investigation and Membership Termination
Gymnastics Australia is actively pursuing the termination of Funtastic Gymnastics’ membership and has tasked its National Integrity Unit with a full investigation. A senior official stated the organization received facts indicating the club was not adhering to mandatory requirements for Working With Children Checks for all staff and volunteers.
The club was initially given until 5 p.m. Friday to present a case against membership termination.However, instead of responding to the “show cause” notice, Funtastic Gymnastics informed Gymnastics Australia of its decision to close. “Gymnastics Australia is taking steps to terminate the membership of Funtastic Gymnastics, effective immediatly,” read the organization’s Friday statement.
Gymnastics Australia is urging anyone with information regarding the ownership structure of Funtastic Gymnastics to come forward, directing inquiries to [email protected].
Separately, victoria Police confirmed the arrest of a 48-year-old man from Olinda on November 6. The arrest was related to a breach of a court order, with the man charged with failing to comply with reporting obligations. He has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on January 22, 2026.
Gymnastics Australia confirmed it has been in close consultation with Gymnastics Victoria, Sport Integrity Australia, and Victoria Police throughout this process.
Impact on families
The closure of Funtastic Gymnastics impacts an estimated 200 to 300 families. The ABC has reached out to Funtastic Gymnastics for comment but has not yet received a response. This situation underscores the critical importance of robust safeguarding measures within youth sporting organizations and the swift response required when concerns about child safety arise.
Here’s a substantive news report answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions:
Why: Funtastic Gymnastics in Berwick, Melbourne, closed due to a child safety complaint lodged with Gymnastics Australia (GA) concerning a part-owner of the facility. GA also received information indicating the club wasn’t adhering to mandatory Working With Children Check requirements.
Who: The key players are Funtastic Gymnastics, Gymnastics Australia, victoria Police, the part-owner of Funtastic Gymnastics (a 48-year-old man from Olinda who was arrested on an unrelated matter), and the approximately 200-300 families affected by the closure.
