Four-year-old child finds syringe in digging area of Bubup Nairm Children’s Centre in St Kilda

The anti-social behaviour taking over Chapel St appears to have overflowed into a neighbouring childcare centre, after a four-year-old child discovered a syringe while playing in an outdoor area.

A four-year-old found a syringe while playing in the digging patch at a St Kilda childcare centre. Picture: Cathy Adams

A St Kilda childcare centre will undergo a safety review after a four-year-old found a syringe while playing in the digging patch of the outdoor play area.

Parents whose children attend the City of Port Phillip run Bubup Nairm Children’s Centre received a message on Friday alerting them of the incident

The centre is located on Carlilse Street, but the digging patch where the syringe was found is believed to be back on to Chapel Street which has seen a rapid decline in recent years from the classy shopping hot spot it was once known for.

In the message, which was sent to the Herald Sun by a concerned parent, the centre said they would shut down the area where the capped syringe was found last Thursday and they had added extra protection to stop objects potentially getting thrown in from the Chapel Street.

The digging patch where the syringe was found by a child backs on to Chapel street. Picture: Grace Frost

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

“This morning an additional protective barrier was added to the top of the Chapel Street fence in case the item came from this location.”

The centre confirmed that a review was set to take place of their everyday procedures, while the upset family of the child were getting support

“We are extremely concerned about this incident and have instigated extra precautions and a safety review,” their message read.

“The service currently completes a daily early morning grounds check prior to children’s admittance to the outdoor area.

“This practice will be reviewed and we will consider how we can best ensure ongoing safety measures throughout the day.

The childcare centre will undergo a safety review after the child made the concerning discovery. Picture: file image

“Council is providing support to the affected family in what we understand is a deeply distressing circumstance.”

City of Port Phillip mayor Louise Crawford said she was alerted to the incident on Friday and it was deeply unsettling while confirming the review.

“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.

“This particular type of incident has never happened before at the St Kilda centre. We are extremely concerned and have instigated extra precautions and a safety review.”

The Department of Education said they were aware of the drama and they would be conducting their own investigation.

“The safety of children is our number one priority,” a spokesperson said.

“The early childhood regulator will visit Bubup Nairm Children’s Centre as part of its investigation to ensure appropriate action was taken to protect the safety, health and wellbeing of children on site.”

Originally published as Four-year-old child finds syringe in digging area of Bubup Nairm Children’s Centre in St Kilda