Educator arrested and charged in relation to assault on 2 babies in her care

An early childhood educator in New South Wales has been arrested and charged in relation to an allegation that she assaulted two children in her care – one 13 months of age, the other 9 months of age, the Daily Telegraph reports. 

Before continuing to engage with this piece readers should be aware that it discusses alleged incidents of harm toward children, which may prove distressing, and should evaluate their own circumstances and capacity before continuing to read.

The female educator, aged 40, lives in South Penrith, with the alleged incidents taking place at an early learning service in her local area. 

The alleged incidents were discovered when the mother of the older child collected her daughter from care, taking her home, and finding “a 10 – 15 centimetre bruise across the majority of her back.”

On discovering the bruise the mother contacted both the service and the local police, which triggered NSW Police to investigate, and to access CCTV footage, after which the educator was charged in relation to the 13 month old who triggered the investigation, as well as the 9 month old. 

A NSW Police source said the alleged assault of the babies was “captured on CCTV, with more than 30 minutes of footage”.

The educator was arrested and charged after the police investigation on 13 September, before being granted conditional bail.

Speaking in relation to the incident the approved provider confirmed the educator had a valid Working with Children Check, and that they had “no idea the child had been injured on the day”, confirming an investigation had been launched “as soon as the complaint was registered”.

The Sunday Telegraph understands the educator was immediately escorted from the centre by staff and stood down.

As a result of the allegations the educator has been banned from undertaking any role in an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service. 

Family Day Care closed following slapping incident 

In a separate incident reported by the Daily Telegraph the NSW Department of Education, in its capacity as the regulatory authority for the state, has permanently banned a Family Day Care (FDC) educator from working with children after she allegedly slapped a baby girl and lifted her by the arm while a mother looked on from outside.

Police investigated the incident, arresting the educator and charging her with assault in relation to the incident, in which it is alleged that she lifted the girl up by one arm, ‘heavily’ put her down and then either ‘smacked or slapped’ the child. 

It is understood the woman has been informed she is banned from operating an ECEC service or working in a setting with children as a result of the allegations.

Speaking on behalf of the woman at the centre of the incident a spokesperson said the allegations are ‘not as they appear’ and that the woman would dispute the allegations against her. 

Further information about each of the allegations is available in the original coverage, here.