Sector Update 

Two toddlers left a service in Cloverdale unsupervised

September 2025

The Learning

Inadequate supervision remains the leading cause of serious incidents at education and care services in WA.

The Queensland Department of Education have developed a resource for approved providers, approved services and service staff about incident prevention and management - children leaving the service.

The video discusses if no one sees a child leaving your service, it doesn't matter how long they're gone or how far they venture, they’re in danger. Service managers and educators should regularly review supervision practices to ensure children's safety. Serious incidents often stem from failures in key areas:

• Environment - Are there blind spots? Is the environment engaging for the children? Does the set up of play areas facilitate active supervision?
• Supervision Practices - Are educators aware of the supervision policies and practices?  What processes are in place to assess their knowledge and practices?
• Knowledge of Children - Are staff aware of the children's needs or the dynamics of the group?  Are supervision practices adjusted accordingly?  
• Staffing to the Risk - What number of staff do you need to keep eyes on children? Including during different times of day, and transition times. How many staff do you need to manage conversations with parents at handover while maintaining supervision of remaining children and monitoring entries to and exits from the service?

The Incident

A Department of Communities investigation found that in July 2024, two children, aged one and two, exited the toddler room unnoticed as an educator held the door open to speak to a parent at Great Beginnings Cloverdale. 

After leaving the toddler room, one child stayed in the foyer area, while
the other child followed a parent through the automatic doors and exited
the service via a gate that had not properly closed, entering a busy carpark
adjacent to a main road.

Fortunately, a parent noticed the child was alone in the carpark and returned the child to the toddlers’ room. At this point the educators realised that the two children had left the room unsupervised.

The Penalty

The approved provider, G8 Education Limited, was ordered to pay a total of $65,000 including costs by the State Administrative Tribunal for contravening the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012.  

SAT ordered G8 Education Limited to pay:

• $35,000 for contravening Section 165(1) of the National Law, for an offence relating to the inadequate supervision of a child.
• $30,000 for contravening Section 167(1) of the National Law, for an offence relating to the protection of children from harm and hazards.

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