Safety review underway after capped syringe found at St Kilda early learning service

Safety review underway after capped syringe found at St Kilda early learning service
A safety review is underway at a St Kilda early learning service after a four-year-old child found a capped syringe in the outdoor play area last week.

The City of Port Phillip, which operates the service, confirmed the incident occurred on Thursday 2 May in a digging patch that backs onto Chapel Street. The area was immediately closed, and additional safety measures have since been implemented.

In a message sent to families, the service stated it had installed a new barrier on top of the Chapel Street fence “in case the item came from this location” and had temporarily restricted access to the digging patch.

“The digging patch area is now closed off to children until appropriate reviews and investigation has occurred,” the service wrote.

A review of current procedures is also underway, including the early morning grounds check performed each day before outdoor play begins.

“We are extremely concerned about this incident and have instigated extra precautions and a safety review,” the message read. “The council is also providing support to the affected family in what we understand is a deeply distressing circumstance.”

Council and regulatory response

City of Port Phillip Mayor Louise Crawford described the situation as “deeply unsettling” and said this type of incident had not occurred previously at the service.

“We are still trying to understand exactly how the syringe entered the outside play area and how the child came to have it,” she said.

In addition to the council led safety review, the Victorian Department of Education has confirmed it is conducting its own investigation through the early childhood regulator.

“The safety of children is our number one priority,” a Department spokesperson said. “The early childhood regulator will visit the service as part of its investigation to ensure appropriate action was taken to protect the safety, health and wellbeing of children on site.”

Ongoing risk management in outdoor learning environments

Outdoor learning environments are a vital part of early childhood programs, and approved services are required to assess and manage potential hazards as part of their risk and supervision planning under the National Quality Framework.

While rare, incidents involving foreign objects or materials in open areas can occur in urban centres. The service’s proactive measures, including closing access to the area, notifying families and launching a review, reflect established protocols for managing serious incidents.

This article includes information first reported by the Herald Sun.