A childcare centre will remain closed after children allegedly ate scraps of food off the floor, did not receive first aid after falls and were repeatedly left unsupervised.
The serious safety concerns raised at Angel’s Paradise Wagga Wagga, in southern New South Wales, came as advocates raised concerns about the quality and availability of childcare in regional areas nationwide.
An estimated 3.7 million Australians live in a childcare desert in regional Australia, according to the Regional Australia Institute.
Court documents revealed Angel’s Paradise was closed immediately after an inspection in September during which education officials found there was “an immediate risk to the safety, health or wellbeing” of children.
Further analysis of CCTV showed alleged breaches, including children being left for extended periods in high chairs and suffering falls after being placed unsecured in baby bounces.
At least one staff member did not hold a working with children check and had not done any formal training in early childhood education, the documents revealed.
Other concerns raised by the Department of Education were that children were allegedly seen eating food scraps off the floor amid a “lack of general hygiene” and staff using phones when they were supposed to be supervising children.
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A tribunal on Monday upheld the six-month suspension placed on the centre, despite the owner arguing it would be forced to close permanently due to financial constraints if it could not operate in the meantime.
Safety concerns were first raised by a parent after their child allegedly returned home in August with an injury requiring medical attention.
The centre’s director, John Tanios, told the department he had viewed CCTV footage and did not witness the child sustaining any injuries, offering an affidavit and 30 minutes of the footage to satisfy the investigation.
But footage of the two days surrounding the alleged injury revealed more.
The department alleged the child could be seen climbing and falling off a cupboard while unsupervised, after which they appeared either distressed, crying or asleep until being picked up at the end of the day.
Several of the breaches were deemed to be serious and “indicative of substantial and ongoing risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of children”, which allowed the department to order the immediate shutdown.
The centre’s operators planned to contest the finding.
While describing the centre’s defence as “not hopeless”, the NSW civil and administrative tribunal rejected an assertion the education department was “hyper vigilant” and had overreacted.
“There are far too many serious alleged breaches,” the tribunal said.
“The unacceptable risk to the health, wellbeing and safety of the child can best be protected by refusing a stay.”
Tanios disputed many of the allegations.
But new measures would be implemented to address some conduct, the documents detailed, such as the use of mobile phones while educating children and children eating off the floor.
Along with his now ex-wife, Tanios operated three childcare centres, including the currently closed centre in Wagga.
A lack of adequate childcare in regional centres has prompted interventions by the federal government, including new laws aimed at encouraging workers to join the industry.
About 21,000 qualified professionals are needed to address the shortfall and another 18,000 are needed to meet future demand, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
Last year, the Regional Australia Institute warned that childcare services were not growing fast enough and needed urgent collaborative action from government, business, the not-for-profit sector and communities.
“Without such action, our regional kids will continue to miss out on the rich rewards of early childhood education and care,” it said.
Source: theguardian.com
