Workforce

ECEC professional charged after allegedly forcibly detaining children

Freya Lucas

Jan 10, 2024

Save

An early childhood education and care (ECEC) professional from the West Australian community of Exmouth has been refused bail in relation to allegations of forcibly detaining two children she encountered whilst walking her dog.

The 28 year old is alleged to have attempted to take two children, aged two and six years, away from a park where they were playing while she was walking her dog on Sunday evening.

The prosecutors in the cash have alleged that the educator approached a group of eight children and spoke to them before picking up the two year old, and taking the six year old by the hand, walking away with them whilst telling the remaining children that the pair “were cute” and that she was “taking them home for the night.”

The police further alleged that the remaining children fought to get the two children back before informing their parents of what had happened.

The educator returned to the home of one of the children to get her dog, who had followed the child home after the incident. Whilst at the residence, the police alleged that the educator interacted with the parents, who called the police after the educator repeated her intention to take the children home for the evening.

The magistrate hearing the case refused bail, describing the conduct of the educator as “very bizarre behaviour.”

The educator has been remanded in custody and will next be before the court on 20 March for a committal mention.

Don’t miss a thing

Childcare centres may have clear rules for staff numbers, but there are loopholes to get around them

There is a growing number of “serious incidents” in Australian early childhood services, including day cares.

What Can Australia Learn from Ontario’s Child Care Ratios?

As workforce pressures continue to shape early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy discussions in Australia, international comparisons provide useful perspectives. Canada’s approach, particularly in Ontario, offers a case study in how educator-to-child ratios, maximum group sizes and qualification requirements can be legislated as an integrated framework.

Burnout in early childhood education: Why leadership support is the missing lever

Early childhood educators have one of the most important jobs in Australia. We trust them to keep our kids safe, to educate them in their most formative years, and to care for them when we can’t do it ourselves. And far too often, educators are doing it all on empty.

Workforce planning in ECEC: from compliance requirement to strategic advantage

With workforce pressures continuing across early childhood education and care (ECEC), a structured approach to workforce planning is emerging as a critical leadership tool, not simply an administrative exercise.

National Early Childhood Worker Register: commencing 27 February 2026

The introduction of the National Early Childhood Worker Register from the 27 February, has signalled a significant shift in workforce oversight across early childhood education and care (ECEC).