Fraser Coast early learning service responds after children leave centre grounds

Bay Explorers Early Learning in Urraween, Queensland, is working closely with authorities after two young children left the centre’s premises and were safely returned on Wednesday, prompting concern in the local community.

The children were spotted on Richard Charles Drive, not far from the service, before being guided back by two educators. A photo of the moment was shared to a local community noticeboard, accompanied by public commentary questioning how the incident had occurred and how quickly staff had responded.

In a statement provided to the media on Thursday, Bay Explorers confirmed the incident and emphasised that the children were unharmed and not distressed.

“We immediately notified the Department and the children’s families, and we are working closely with relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event,” a spokesperson said.

The service, which provides early learning and care for children from six weeks to five years of age, described the situation as a one-off incident and stated that similar occurrences had never happened in its history.

“We are committed to continuously improving our practice and processes to ensure this does not happen again. The wellbeing and safety of children in our care remains our highest priority.”

The spokesperson also noted that elements of the social media post breached the children’s right to privacy and did not accurately reflect the nature of the event.

Occurrences like this are directly linked to Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Standard (NQS), which requires services to ensure that children are adequately supervised and that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect them from harm and hazard.

Maintaining strong supervision practices, regular staff training and daily environmental checks are key strategies services use to minimise risk. Effective incident response and team-based review processes are also central to building a strong culture of safety in early childhood settings.

Bay Explorers expressed gratitude to families and the broader Fraser Coast community for their continued support.

“At the heart of our work are dedicated, professional educators who are deeply committed to the safety and learning of every child. For them, any incident is deeply upsetting and strengthens their determination to provide the highest standards of care,” the spokesperson said.