Floreat Childcare Provider Fined $28,000 After Children Lost at Perth Zoo

A childcare provider operating out of Floreat Park Primary School has been fined $28,000 following a serious lapse in supervision during a zoo excursion that left two children lost and others unsupervised.

The incident occurred on September 30, 2024, when TheirCare, an education and care service attached to the primary school, took 12 children on an outing to Perth Zoo. The day coincided with a record-breaking surge in visitors due to a government-sponsored free ticket scheme.

According to findings by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), two children aged 5 and 6 became separated from their group while under the supervision of two casual educators. CCTV footage revealed that one educator walked ahead with her head down and failed to check behind her, allowing the children to drift away unnoticed. When she realized they were missing, she briefly left the group to search, followed by the second educator, leaving the remaining 10 children unsupervised.

The lost children were eventually found distressed near the carousel by a member of the public, who alerted zoo staff. A teacher reported the missing children to staff approximately 10 minutes after they had gone missing.

The tribunal found that both educators were unqualified casual staff and that no contingency plan was in place for managing missing children during the excursion. TheirCare was penalized for multiple breaches:

• $18,000 for failing to ensure adequate supervision
• $8,000 for employing unqualified educators
• $2,000 in legal costs

This incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter oversight of excursion planning and educator qualifications in early childhood settings. It also underscores the importance of proactive risk management, especially during high-traffic public events.

Reference:
Floreat Childcare Provider TheirCare Fined For Losing Two Children At Perth Zoo