Camp Australia fined $33k after child wanders from care service in Baldivis

Wednesday, 20 December 2023 11:03

By Monique Welhan

A before-and-after school care provider has been fined $33,500 by the State Administrative Tribunal after a young child wandered from the centre in Baldivis without anyone noticing.

Camp Australia Pty Limited, who operates the OSHC service at Makybe Rise Primary School, was found to have contravened the Education and Care Service National Law (WA) Act 2012.

A Department of Communities investigation found that in February 2023, a three-year-old child left the service and was found on a road nearby by a member of the public.

The temperature on that day was 36 degrees.

Camp Australia was also fined an additional $30,000 over two separate incidents in Banksia Grove and Coolbinia where children left the OSHC's unsupervised.

“Adequate supervision within the education and care services sector is a required standard," Executive Director, Regulation and Quality, Department of Communities Phil Payne said.

“Inadequate supervision can place children into situations where they are seriously or fatally injured. It is the Approved Provider’s role to ensure that the risk of harm and hazard to children is minimised and reflected in robust supervision policies and procedures.

“Service Providers should continue to review their business practices and capacity to provide active supervision of children in their care.

“A Service Provider which fails to do so will be investigated by the Department of Communities and may face disciplinary proceedings.”