Service provider G8 Education Ltd, trading as Great Beginnings Gosnells, was ordered to pay $15,000 plus $2000 costs by the State Administrative Tribunal for contravention of section 165(1) of the Education and Care Service National Law (Western Australia), following the investigation of an incident on 7 December 2020.
A Department of Communities investigation found that a boy aged four years and nine months was found on the footpath outside the service, at about 9.30am, beside a dual carriageway with a 60kmh speed limit.
The investigation found that the child left the service premises without educators noticing and was unsupervised for around five to 10 minutes.
Quotes from Catherine Stoddart, Deputy Director General, Governance Integrity and Reform:
“This outcome must serve as a warning to providers in the childcare industry about their responsibilities and obligations to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children enrolled at a childcare service.
“It is a requirement under the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012 that providers of childcare services must ensure that all children are adequately supervised at all times while in the care of the service.
“It is important that childcare providers review their supervision policies and practices to ensure they are adequate. The supervision practices must consider the location from where the service operates, and the individual needs of all children enrolled.
“Services must also consider having a behaviour management plan for children with additional needs and seek support from external agencies as required.
“The supervision policies and procedures must be robust and include frequent headcounts and premises checks, especially during transition times, to ensure all children are accounted for.
“Staff should be trained in the service policies and procedures to ensure that they are embedded in their service practices.”
Media contact: Kaye Hopkins 0466 720 771
