Child hospitalised after drug ingestion at NSW family day care

A child has been hospitalised in critical condition after allegedly ingesting an illicit substance while in care at a family day care residence in New South Wales. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday 3 July, has led to the immediate suspension of the educator’s registration and prompted an ongoing investigation by multiple authorities, including the NSW Department of Education.

Emergency services were called to the home, which was operating under the banner of Rainbow Bridge family day care, following reports that a child in care had consumed drugs. NSW Police confirmed that the child was transported to hospital in a critical but stable condition.

In response to the incident, the Department of Education the regulatory authority under the National Quality Framework (NQF) took immediate action to suspend the educator’s approval to operate. The family day care service is also under review, with the Department working alongside law enforcement and child protection services to investigate the matter.

A spokesperson for the Department said: “The safety and wellbeing of children is our highest priority. The educator’s registration has been suspended while investigations are underway, and appropriate steps are being taken to ensure compliance with the Education and Care Services National Law.”

Under National Regulation 82, services must ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and from any hazard likely to cause injury. This includes preventing children’s access to harmful substances and ensuring homes used for family day care comply with strict safety standards.

The Family Day Care is an approved provider of in-home education and care, responsible for coordinating and supporting educators across the region. As part of its obligations, the provider must ensure that all environments used for family day care are safe and that educators meet the prescribed standards of care and supervision.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for vigilance in monitoring family day care environments, which differ significantly from centre-based care settings. Advocates have long called for more consistent regulation, unannounced checks, and improved support for educators working in remote and regional areas.

At the time of writing, no charges have been laid, and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities have not released further details regarding how the substance was accessed or whether any other children were affected.

The Department of Education and Rainbow Bridge family day care have declined to provide additional comment, citing the active investigation.

This incident follows broader sector concerns around child safety and the critical importance of robust compliance mechanisms, particularly in home-based care environments where oversight can be more complex.

This report draws on information from NSW Police, the NSW Department of Education, and initial media coverage published by the Northern Daily Leader.