August 13th 2024.
Today in the Southport Magistrates Court, a daycare provider on the Gold Coast was issued a fine of $13,500 for an incident that occurred in September 2022. It was reported that two young children, both under the age of three, were able to escape from the Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure centre in Maudsland. The centre, which is operated by Vesta Maudsland, had an open gate in their outdoor playground that the toddlers walked through. They then made their way through the carpark and onto the front footpath, where a member of the public found them.
After an investigation, it was found that there were clear breaches in supervision at the centre. The court also noted that there was a systemic failure by staff to properly supervise the children in their care. Magistrate Sarah Thompson ordered the centre to pay $1,750 in costs to the Department of Education, who had prosecuted the service's approved provider for failing to protect the children from harm and inadequate supervision.
In a statement to 9news.com.au, Vesta Maudsland director Damian Hall took full responsibility for the incident. He acknowledged the cooperation of the centre with the regulatory body and their swift actions to ensure the safety of their children and staff. This included strengthening policies and procedures, ongoing staff training, and implementing new technologies. Hall also expressed his gratitude to the families of the children for their support and continued trust in the centre.
Despite this unfortunate incident, the centre had received an "exceeding rating" in an assessment by the Department of Education earlier this year. The department also stated that they will continue to work with the early childhood sector to promote proper supervision and safe environments for children. They emphasized that any approved provider found to have inadequate measures in place to ensure the safety of children will face appropriate action.
In conclusion, this incident serves as a reminder to all childcare providers to prioritize the safety and well-being of the children in their care. It is crucial to constantly review and improve policies and procedures, as well as provide ongoing training for staff to ensure incidents like this do not occur again. The Department of Education will continue to monitor and take action when necessary to ensure the protection of children in early childhood services.
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