An approved education and care provider in Atwell has been penalised after a child was administered almost four times the dosage of required medication.
At the time of the incident, which occurred on 9 October 2025, the educator was distracted by another child and administered the incorrect dosage despite having received clear instructions on how to deliver the medication.
During this incident, processes were not followed, including ensuring that medication and the determination of correct dosage is always double checked by another educator before being administered. Crucially, neither educator working directly with the child had been given any external training on administration of the medication.
The family sought medical advice and monitored the child after the incident. Fortunately, the child recovered well, but the incident could have had far more severe consequences.
Goodstart Early Learning Ltd, which operates the approved service Goodstart Early Learning Atwell, has been ordered to pay $30,600 by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) and $2,000 towards the Department of Communities costs.
A Department of Communities (Communities) investigation found that the provider had breached the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) by failing to ensure that every reasonable precaution was taken to protect the child from any hazard likely to cause injury, and by failing to ensure that medication was appropriately administered. It was also found that the approved provider failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that nominated supervisors and staff members followed the appropriate policies and procedures.
More information on the Tribunal’s order is available on the eCourts website.
Quotes from Angelo Barbaro, Executive Director, Regulation and Quality, Department of Communities:
"This incident, which was clearly avoidable, could easily have had far more serious outcomes.
"The administration of medication can be complex and must be done in a space free of distractions.
"The Department of Communities’ Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) stresses the importance of training educators so that they are competent in the administration of medication.
"Approved providers must ensure diligence around following mediation requirements to the letter and need to ensure that educators are competent and confident.
"ECRU will continue to remind approved providers that staffing should always meet the needs of the children and not minimum ratios, and that inductions should be detailed and completed in full."
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