Carrum Downs Goodstart Early Learning Centre under investigation after educator mishandles three children

A childcare centre is under investigation after a “flustered and stressed” childcare worker was seen mishandling children in their care, prompting one mum to call for tough consequences.

A childcare centre in Melbourne’s southeast suburbs is under investigation after a staff member “forcefully” picked up three young children, prompting one parent to withdraw her daughters from its care.

Management are conducting inquiries into Goodstart Early Learning centre on Arcadia Street in Carrum Downs, following complaints from a staff member who witnessed the incident.

Three children were playing under a pergola at the centre last month when they ran into the yard which was closed due to rain.

An incident report sighted by this masthead explained the children passed cafe blinds which were drawn to keep them under the pergola, prompting a staff member to follow them.

“During this time the educator seemed very flustered and stressed,” the author of the incident report wrote.

“I saw her retrieve each child one by one forcefully by picking up and then releasing them back into the pergola area.”

An incident at Goodstart Carrum Downs is being investigated after three children were handled “forcefully”.

The mother of a two-year-old girl who was involved in the incident, said her daughter was distressed after returning home from childcare that day.

“The centre director told me ‘forcibly’ meant the children were picked up quickly and from behind in a way they weren’t happy with,” she said.

“My kids muck around with their dad and wrestle, so when my daughter became upset that really concerned me because she’s a tough resilient child.”

The mum said the incident came six months after her youngest daughter encountered similar treatment from a student carer working at the centre.

“A staff member still studying her certificate in childcare was asked to put my two-year-old daughter down for a nap,” she said.

“But one of the other educators witnessed the staff member physically hold my daughter down to the ground because she didn’t want to sleep.”

The incident occurred on a Friday, with the girl’s parents not informed about the matter until the following week.

The mum has since withdrawn both her daughters from the centre’s care.

The Department of Education is looking into the incident following a complaint.

Goodstart Early Learning Victoria East State Manager Christine Walters said the childcare centre took all incidents and allegations extremely seriously and families were informed of any incident or allegation which concerned their child.

“We have strict internal policies and procedures in place and we must meet regulatory requirements as we investigate all complaints. We work closely with the Government regulator to ensure these are met,” she said.

“We work hard to ensure all findings and recommendations from internal and external investigations are implemented and where required team members receive follow-up support and training.”

The mum said there should be tougher consequences for educators and organisations who are found breaking child safety standards.

“How many families have been affected by ongoing misconduct that are never perhaps notified?” she said.

“We have been lucky in these situations there has been a witness but who is to say what else may have occurred?

“The vulnerable children that these people work with are still learning how to communicate basic needs, let alone disclose such terrifying situations.”

The Department of Education was contacted for comment.