NT inquest to examine death of 22-month-old Ebony Thompson at Humpty Doo childcare centre

The grieving parents of a little girl have released a heartbreaking photo of her, ahead of the coronial inquest into a fatal medical incident at a Top End childcare centre.

The Humpty Doo childcare where a girl had a medical incident leading to her death. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Wearing a bright pink fishing shirt and her bare feet in the sand, Ebony Thompson’s beaming smile shows she is a Territory kid in her element.

This is how the Thompson family want to remember their little girl, ahead of the coronial inquest into the 22-month-old’s unexpected death at a rural childcare centre.

NT coroner Elisabeth Armitage will open an inquest into Ebony’s death on Tuesday, investigating the lead up to a serious medical incident at the Humpty Doo Community and Child Care Centre on August 30, 2023.

Ebony Thompson was 22-months-old when she died after suffering from a medical incident at the Humpty Doo Community and Child Care Centre on August 30, 2023. Picture: Supplied

The toddler was rushed to Royal Darwin Hospital in a critical condition as a result of the medical incident at the centre, and passed away two days later on September 2, 2023.

Forty-five days before what was meant to be her second birthday, the Thompson family instead had to hold her funeral, with her loved ones dressed in purple — Ebony’s favourite colour.

NT Police confirmed her unexpected death was “non suspicious”, with Ms Armitage clarifying that the inquest would centre on issues about the provision of childcare at the rural centre.

NT coroner Elisabeth Armitage will open an inquest into Ebony’s death on Tuesday. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

In the wake of the tragedy the Humpty Doo Community and Child Care Centre told parents that “our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts are with the family and friends at this time”.

“We want to reassure families that the safety of their children is always our highest priority,” it said.

Last year the early childhood education regulator, Quality Education and Care NT, said its own investigation into the incident was ongoing, alongside continuous monitoring of the centre.

The Humpty Doo childcare where a girl had a medical incident leading to her death. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The community childcare centre is managed by volunteer parent members and looks after up to 116 children aged from four months to five-years-old, according to its website.

At the time of the incident the Australian Children‘s Education and Care Quality Authority stated that the Humpty Doo Community and Child Care Centre was meeting all of the National Quality Standards, based on its evaluation in 2020.

However in a January 2025 evaluation, the centre was found to be below the national standards in five of the seven national metrics, and was “working towards” targets for children’s health and safety, educational programs and practice, physical environment, relationships with children, and governance and leadership.

It was meeting the Australian standards on staffing arrangements and collaboration with families and communities.

As a condition of approval the ACECQA capped the childcare centre at 72 kids, with specific ratios for each age range to “reflect the indoor space children have access to”.

The Humpty Doo childcare where a girl had a medical incident leading to her death. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“The service must consider how the use and set up of the indoor and outdoor spaces ensures all children have access to genuine indoor and outdoor space as and when required. Including through the provision of adequate resources,” it said.

“The approved provider must provide the regulatory authority a plan or similar that demonstrates how they will ensure all educators will be aware of the ways in which the indoor space must be used, and the requirements for children to access both indoor and outdoor play, often simultaneously to meet the requirements of the National Quality Standards.”

Originally published as NT inquest to examine death of 22-month-old Ebony Thompson at Humpty Doo childcare centre