Only About Children: Childcare centre facing criminal charges

One of the biggest childcare providers in the country is staring down the prospect of a massive fine after being hit with criminal charges for a second time over the level of care given to children in its facilities.

• ‘Horrific pain’: Sick rapist Scout leader jailed
• Sydney Harbour tunnel plan released

One of Australia’s biggest childcare providers is facing criminal charges and a significant fine after a young boy wandered off its campus in Sydney’s inner west and had to be rescued by a member of the public in the middle of a busy commercial hub.

The Department of Education is prosecuting the case against Only About Children Pty Ltd, who are based in St Leonards, after the ordeal came to light in late 2017.

Only About Children has 63 facilities across Australia, with 42 in Sydney alone, and has previously been convicted of similar charges according to court documents.

The young boy had wandered off as parents came to collect their kids. Staff believed he had followed another family out. Picture: AAP/John Fotiadis

The same month a toddler managed to escape its care in Rhodes, the company was convicted of failing to follow policies and procedures under legislated guidelines and failing to secure the protection of children in the Waverley Local Court.

The company has pleaded guilty to failing to adequately supervise children and are staring down the barrel at a maximum fine of $50,000.

The incident the department has charged the company over this time around relates to a toddler who managed to elude workers during the late afternoon rush, when children were being picked up by their parents.

Court documents detailed the incident in 2017. Picture: AAP/John Fotiadis

Court documents tendered to Burwood Local Court last week reveal the young boy was unable to be located after a headcount on November 17, 2017 but was found about 20 minutes later running around a nearby industrial complex “alone in distress calling for his mother”.

At that point a member of the public stopped the toddler from running past a boom gate and onto a main road before taking the child back to Only About Children’s campus.

Court documents state workers at the centre only informed the boy’s parents about the incident after they had picked him up for the day.

The company’s case will return to court later this year.

Only About Children and the Department of Education were contacted for comment.

News tips? Email: [e-mail]