Brisbane childcare centre cops $12,500 fine after young child found alone on busy road

A childcare provider has been fined after a young child wandered off unsupervised and was found crossing roads alone.

The five-year-old left Busy Bees Early Learning Centre on Harries Rd in Coorparoo, Brisbane, through an emergency exit without being seen, the Queensland Department of Education said on Wednesday.

The centre is located above a Woolworths shopping complex with emergency exits leading to street level.

The child crossed two roads before being found by members of the public on Old Cleveland Rd.

“His absence was only noticed by his mother when arriving to collect him,” the department said of the incident which occurred on February 17, 2023.

The child was missing for between eight minutes and 18 minutes.

FEL Child Care Centres 3 Pty Ltd, the company operating the centre, was fined $12,500 in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The centre was found to have failed its duties to properly supervise children, prevent a child from leaving the service, ensure staff followed policies, and maintain accurate records.

Magistrate Belinda Merrin described the circumstances as serious, noting the child had previously attempted to leave the centre and that their absence had gone unnoticed until pick-up time.

She said the provider’s failures placed the child at significant risk.

The Department of Education said the $12,500 fine reflected “the seriousness of these offences, and the fundamental responsibility of approved providers to ensure children are not able to leave the service premises”.

The Regulatory Authority warned if approved providers fail to take adequate steps to protect children’s health and safety, it will take strong and necessary action.

“We are deeply sorry this happened and take full responsibility,” Busy Bees Australia said.

“The safety and wellbeing of every child in our care remains our top priority. “We’ve since introduced extra safeguards, including an independent centre compliance review, additional external CCTV at the centre, enhanced supervision training, and improved employee inductions with checks to ensure understanding. “The matter was immediately reported to the regulators and families at the centre were notified.”