On Thursday 16th March, when the Redlands in southeast Queensland recorded a top temperature of 31.1 degrees, a child was left on a bus for around an hour outside the early learning centre. Since the incident, the centre has suspended excursions and transportation.
Centre staff has been left "absolutely devastated" by the incident. “As a centre community, we are absolutely devastated that this has occurred, and we are working together to ensure that an incident like this never happens again". Centre business manager Carly Pickett wrote in an email sent to families.
“As a result of this serious incident, an internal investigation has commenced with our Support Office and the department of Early Childhood Education and Care has been notified and will also commence its own investigation.
All team members will be retrained in all policies, procedures and documentation around the safe transportation of children on Monday 20th March to support further quality improvement and ongoing enhancement to health and safety policies,” she wrote.
It is understood the child was on the bus alone for around an hour and an ambulance was not called.
On Friday the 10th Of March, a Victorian toddler was also left on a bus outside their centre for up to 5 hours - Victorian Toddler Left On Daycare Bus For Up To 5 Hours
ACECQA added new regulatory requirements on transporting children to and from the service which came into effect on 01 March 2023. It includes mandatory notifying the regulatory authority that your service provides or arranges regular transportation, the service to account for all children as they embark and disembark at the service premises and keeping a record of how each child was accounted for and more.
Further Reading
New Transportation Requirements For Centre-Based Services In Effect As Of Today
68 Children Have Been Left On A Bus Across Australia Over The Past 5 Years
Reference:
Absolutely Devastated: Child Left On Bus Outside Early Learning Centre, The Age Queensland, March 18th 2023
