The Queensland Regulatory Authority (Department of Education) has published on its website details of the following prosecutions (since the middle of last year):
Genius Learning Proprietary Limited was fined $15,000 by the Brisbane Magistrates Court for breach of sections 165(1) and 167(1). This was after two children in the care of Genius Learning Chermside left the service unaccompanied and were unaccounted for, for between 10 and 15 minutes. The children, aged 2 and 3, left the service through a faulty fire exit door and accessed a large shopping centre and car park before they were returned to the service by members of the public.
An (unnamed) educator was fined $2,000 and ordered to pay $2,000 in court costs by the Brisbane Magistrates Court for continuing to work in an early childhood service after being prohibited by the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority. The educator pleaded guilty to one charge of contravening a prohibition notice (section 187(1)). Between 8 December 2021 and 21 February 2022, the educator continued to work, contrary to a prohibition notice issued on 8 December 2021.
Affinity Education Group Limited was fined $35,000, with no conviction recorded, after a child in the care of Milestones Early Learning The Lakes was left on the service's bus on 15 July 2021 for about 65 minutes. Affinity Education Group Limited pleaded guilty to 2 charges (breach of sections 165 and 167). The 4-year-old child had been collected from home, and a member of the public later noticed they were alone and restrained in the car seat inside the bus.
Grans & Co. Pty. Ltd.was fined $34,500 in Brisbane Magistrates Court, following multiple incidents occurring at Frogtastic Educational Kindergarten and Childcare, in Bundaberg, between February 2021 and July 2022. The court also awarded $3,000 in costs to the Department. The incidents included leaving a 4-year-old child unattended on a service bus for approximately 5–15 minutes, leaving a 2-year-old child unsupervised in the playground for approximately 2 minutes, and 2 children aged 5 and 6 leaving the service premises unsupervised for 30–45 minutes. Breaches related to sections 165(1), 167(1), 176(3), and 177(3).
Oakhaul Pty. Ltd. was fined $23,000 in relation to multiple breaches of the National Law and National Regulations identified during visits to Little Champions Child Care between November 2020 and May 2022. The approved provider pleaded guilty to a total of 16 charges relating to: - non-compliance with conditions of service approval (section 51(8)). - failing to ensure every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and hazards likely to cause injury (section 167(1)). - failing to ensure educational programs are based on frameworks and meet the needs of children (section 168(1). - non-compliance with a compliance notice (section 177(3)). - failing to ensure risk assessments are carried out in relation to transportation (Regulation 102B(1). - failing to ensure a child is not transported without authorisation (regulation 102D(1)). - failing to ensure the service premises and all equipment and furniture used are safe, clean and in good repair (regulation 103(1)). - non-compliant fencing (regulation 104(1)). - failing to ensure emergency and evacuation plans and instructions are displayed in a prominent position near each exit (regulation 97(4)).
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