A five-month old baby boy died at a family daycare centre in Queensland on Wednesday.
Police and community services are now investigating whether the centre was operating appropriately.
Th boy was dropped off at the Moorooka house in Brisbane’s south in the morning on Wednesday November 18.
An ambulance was called to the house around 11 am after the baby was found to be unresponsive.
Seven News reported that paramedics worked on the infant for 35 minutes, but were unable to revive the boy.
“At this point in time we’re not dealing with any suspicions in relation to the death of the little boy,” Inspector Steve Flori told Seven.
But he said the incident had raised some questions about the way the centre was operating.
“It warrants our further investigation to find out exactly how these children were being cared for,” he said.
“When police were looking through the premises earlier to check on its condition they’ve found some locked doors. And when those doors have been opened they’ve actually found children in some of the rooms.”
There were reportedly six children being cared for at the centre.
Seven News said that some parents had not been contacted to pick up their children because police had allegedly been unable to find contact details at the centre.
A neighbour told The Brisbane Times that the centre had begun operating without warning about “three or four years ago”.
“I don’t know about the inside (of the house), we never saw the inside,” she said.
“We only see the outside, out the front, so I have no idea because they’re behind a sliding, gated fence so you don’t really see much in there because it’s always locked up except for when people come and go to get their children.”
The centre, which appears to not have been accredited through the National Quality Framework yet, is required to maintain detailed records of children in care.
The Queensland guidelines say enrollment, activity and medical records must be kept for all children at a centre.
One parent told Seven News that they had not found out about the boy’s death until he arrived as scheduled to pick up his own child.
“That’s a big concern and police just told me don’t send your kids to here anymore,” parent Andy Chien said.
A report is being prepared for the coroner and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Department of Education and Training will also investigate.
Top Comments
I am a registered family day care educator and this case seems to be a backyarder but if they are registered with a scheme then that scheme should be shut down immediately as there is meant to be regular monitoring of both the premises and paperwork if it is not a registered service then the media have to stop calling it a family day care centre as it makes all family day care seem dodgy
I work in a daycare center. I don't understand how you could possibly do anything that would harm a child. Sure sometimes when I'm by myself in a room with 5 screaming infants I feel overwhelmed but they are pretty easy to calm so long as you know what they need. I feel if your easily overwhelmed you don't belong in childcare
No one did anything to harm the child, it's not a suspicious death so your comment isn't relevant?
They have stated that there are no suspicious circumstances as the child has been found unresponsive (I am reading between the lines with SIDS). Its the lack of records, ratio observations and OHS standards that are coming to light. As an Area Coordinator for a family day care...this is my worst nightmare!!