Kanga Enterprises Pty Ltd has been fined $28,000, with no conviction recorded, after a child in the care of Cooinda Early Learning in Caboolture was left unattended on the service’s bus on 5 October 2022.
The 2-year-old child had been collected from home and staff only realised they were still onboard the vehicle after their parent phoned the centre to pass on a message.
While thankfully the child in this case was unharmed, the Regulatory Authority prosecuted Kanga Enterprises Pty Ltd, as the approved provider of the service, for failing to adequately supervise children, protect children from harm and hazard, have written authorisation for children being transported, and for having an inadequate risk assessment.
On 25 October 2024, Kanga Enterprises Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to 10 charges, and the fine of $28,000 reflects the seriousness of these offences.
In deciding the defendant’s sentence, Magistrate Kurt Fowler noted that it was only because the parent phoned the centre that they realised the child was on the bus.
Magistrate Fowler expressed the expectation that the approved provider should have been more vigilant with their overall compliance given that the
Regulatory Authority had previously identified non-compliance issues.
The Magistrate also noted the defence’s acceptance of each non-compliance, and that they had taken steps after the incident to ensure children’s safety when transporting.
This prosecution sends a strong message to approved providers that they have an overriding responsibility to ensure children are adequately supervised and protected from harm when they are transported as this type of incident could result in a child’s serious injury or death.
Remember the critical message:
‘Look before you lock. Every. Single. Time’.
The department will continue to work with the early childhood sector to promote supervision and ensure safe environments for children, particularly when being transported.
Incident prevention and management, which incorporates adequate supervision and risk assessment and management, is one of the
Regulatory Authority’s
key priority areas as part of its risk-based approach to regulating early childhood services—regulating for quality.
Where the steps taken to ensure the health and safety of children are inadequate, the Regulatory Authority will not hesitate to take appropriate action.