Gold Coast childcare centre fined after two toddlers found on footpath after escape
Two toddlers escaped a Gold Coast childcare centre via an open gate and were found on a footpath by a member of the public, resulting in a fine for operators.
Vesta Maudsland, which operates Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure in Maudsland, was charged with failing to protect children from harm and hazard and for inadequate supervision over the September 2022 incident.
Company representatives faced Southport Magistrates Court where they were found guilty and fined $13,500 on Tuesday.
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They walked through the carpark and onto the footpath outside the premises on Maudsland Rd, where a member of the public found them.
Magistrate Sarah Thompson determined there had been clear breaches in supervision of the children.
“The children had been unsupervised for around four minutes,” she said.
“It is clear that there were breaches on that day and a systemic failure as to what was required in the supervision of the children.”
She noted centre management had since taken steps to “negate” the possibility of a similar incident.
The state education department, which prosecuted the case, said in a statement that the sentence reflected “clear breaches in supervision, and that there was a systemic failure by staff to supervise children attending the service”.
