Sector Update 

Seven-year-old child left on a bus on 41ºC day in Forrestfield

October 2025

The Learning

Across Australia incidences of children being left on buses appears to be an ongoing issue.  A range of information has been shared with the sector previously regarding the hazards of leaving children in vehicles. 

The Summer Hazards - Think it through presentation delivered at our Roadshows in 2023 reminds service staff of the dangers of leaving a child in a vehicle:

Kidsafe Australia shared a link about the Unconventional Oven which demonstrates the magnitude of the problem of children in hot vehicles in Australian conditions.

The importance of implementing a system to ensure that staff follow policies and procedures cannot be underestimated. It is essential that all education and care providers have systems in place to ensure the continual safety of children. The Queensland Government Early Childhood Education and Care have developed a video to support service staff to Look Before You Lock.

The Incident

A Department of Communities investigation found that in January 2025, a seven-year-old child was left unsupervised on a bus outside Kids Academy Early Learning Centre and OSHC, in Forrestfield, after returning from an excursion. There were four service vehicles used on the excursion. When the children disembarked from the vehicle, the educator failed to check the interior to see if all children had disembarked. The vehicle was locked leaving the child inside asleep.

The child was later found by chance by another educator who had returned to where the vehicles were parked to collect a first aid kit. The temperature on the day was approximately 41ºC.  The child was alone in the vehicle and unsupervised for under 10 minutes and was unharmed, although visibly distressed.

It was also found that the service staff on one of the vehicles on that day did not hold the appropriate first aid qualifications. It is essential when transporting children that there are suitably qualified staff on each vehicle.

The Penalty

The approved provider, Amity Early Learning Pty Ltd, was ordered to pay a total of $38,000 including costs by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for contravening the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012.

SAT ordered Amity Early Learning Pty Ltd to pay:

• $18,000 for contravening section 165(1) of the National Law, for an offence relating to the inadequate supervision of a child.
• $18,000 for contravening section 167(1) of the National Law, for an offence relating to the protection of children from harm and hazards.

The approved provider received a reprimand for contravening regulation 136 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2012 in relation to first aid qualifications.

More information on the SAT order is available on the eCourts website.