Early learning centre and OSHC service fined after children abscond

In the latest enforcement actions released by the Western Australia Department of Communities, an early learning service and an outside school hours care (OSHC) service have been fined for breaching the National Law when children have been found in a location other than the service.

The children aged three and seven years of age made their way either home or to a parent’s workplace located nearby before being missed from the services.

The early learning service, located in Broome, has been fined $2,000 for the contravention of section 165(1), which states that all children being educated and cared for by the service must be adequately supervised at all times. The service has also been asked to pay $1,000 toward the Department’s legal costs.

The OSHC service, located in Clarkson, north of Perth, has been fined $9,000 for contravening section 165(1), and $1,000 for failing to notify the WA regulatory authority that management had changed at the service, in accordance with section 173(1)(b). The service has also been asked to pay $2,000 toward the Department’s legal costs.

Information on the WA Education and Care Compliance Enforcement Framework can be found here.