Rise & Shine Kindergarten - Carlton

Over the past three weeks, our Google platform has received dozens of nearly identical one-star reviews from newly created accounts using names that do not correspond with any families connected to our community. Unfortunately, this review follows the same pattern and you have reviewed another service where you are also not on our records. This type of behaviour constitutes online harassment and targeted bullying and is a breach of Google’s review policies, which prohibit fake reviews, coordinated review manipulation, and content posted with malicious intent. In our previous responses, we have openly invited the reviewer to contact us directly so we can investigate the matter and provide a genuine response or resolution if the concern is legitimate. As no contact or clarification has been provided, we are unable to understand why this review has been posted. Under Australian law, the publication of false statements that damage a business’s reputation may also fall within the defamation provisions of the Defamation Act 2005. Coordinated online harassment and misuse of digital platforms can also intersect with offences under the Criminal Code Act 1995 relating to the use of telecommunications services to menace, harass, or cause harm. Given that we have made numerous attempts to engage constructively through appropriate channels without response, we have now begun pursuing the formal avenues available to us through Google’s anonymous poster identification tools and other relevant legal authorities. In the meantime, we strongly encourage the individual responsible to remove any untrue or misleading reviews and to refrain from further online harassment. Rise & Shine remains proud of the community we serve and will continue to prioritise the safety, wellbeing, and transparent communication with the families who are genuinely part of it.