Learning Sanctuary fined $90,000 after child found with skipping rope around neck in King’s Square, Perth
Learning Sanctuary fined $90,000 after child found with skipping rope around neck in King’s Square, Perth
- Child got tangled around his neck with skipping rope
- They were left unattended and ended up on a slide
- G8 Education has been fined an Australian record
A daycare center has been fined a record $90,000 after an unattended child was found unconscious with a skipping rope around his neck.
Childcare provider G8 Education was fined by Western Australia’s State Administrative Tribunal following the incident on September 8, 2022.
Two children were temporarily left unattended at Learning Sanctuary in King’s Square, Perth.
When staff returned 14 minutes later, one of the children was found hanging from a skipping rope after it became entangled around their neck as they descended a slide.
The child, a three-year-old, was unresponsive and required 18 chest compressions before he came to and was taken to hospital.
It is clear that the child has recovered, but the family is too shaken to speak publicly.
A daycare center has been hit with a record $90,000 in fines after an unattended child was found unconscious with a skipping rope around his neck (stock image)
The child was left unattended at The Learning Sanctuary in King’s Square in Perth (pictured)
G8 Education was handed two fines of $50,000 and $40,000, the largest of their kind ever imposed in Australia.
“It’s as close to the worst-case scenario as possible without actually involving the death of a child,” said Angelo Barbara of the Department of Communities.
“The supervisor was actually performing other duties when this tragic accident happened.”
“It is my understanding that the child is physically fine, but is clearly still quite traumatized from the incident,” Barbara said.
A G8 Education spokesman said it has taken “immediate steps” to review its facilities and practices and rolled out improvements across its network.
“We have been working closely with the Education and Care Control Unit during the investigation of this incident and accept the findings of the State Administrative Tribunal report,” the representative said.
The centre’s owner, G8 Education, was fined an Australian record $90,000 (stock image)
“We have implemented all the recommendations in the report and remain committed to providing safe, secure and supportive learning environments for the children in our care.”
WA Community Services Minister Sabine Winton said the size of the fine sends a signal to nurseries across the state.
“When parents drop off their children at centers in Western Australia, they need to know that supervision of their children is 100 per cent of the time and is an absolute priority.”