A rural Darwin childcare centre and three of its staff have been charged after the death of toddler Ebony Thompson in 2023.<\/p>\n
The 22-month-old died after becoming trapped on a fence at the Humpty Doo Community & Child Care Centre during a period of up to 10 minutes in which she was unaccounted-for.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the NT government confirmed the education department had charged the centre and three of its supervisors for inadequately supervising children and inadequately protecting children from harm and hazards.<\/p>\n
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Ebony’s family say she will “forever be our shining light, and through her, we hope to make the world a safer place for all children”. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
In a statement, Northern Territory Education Minister Jo Hersey said “childcare centres need to be held accountable”.<\/p>\n
“This is the first time childcare staff have been charged in the Northern Territory, which sends a clear message child safety must come first,” the minister said.<\/p>\n
“My thoughts are with the family who live with the loss of their daughter Ebony every single day.”<\/p>\n
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Jo Hersey says she will announce a plan to overhaul QECNT in the coming weeks. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)<\/p>\n
Last month, Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage found the 900mm high loop-top fence was in a “blind spot” behind a shed at the centre and ruled Ebony’s death was preventable.<\/p>\n
She said the lack of a “yard check” in the centre’s “active supervision strategy” represented a “systemic failure” by the centre and childcare regulator Quality Education and Care Northern Territory (QECNT).<\/p>\n
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The 900mm high loop-top fence where Ebony was found unresponsive was in a “blind spot” behind a shed. (Supplied: NT Courts)<\/p>\n
Judge Armitage found that while it would be “impossible to eliminate all supervision lapses”, QECNT had also failed to appreciate or adequately manage the risk posed by the fence.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Ms Hersey said she would announce a plan to overhaul QECNT and pull funding from centres not meeting National Quality Standards.<\/p>\n
“Childcare centres need to be held accountable, and I will not hesitate to take action against providers who do not meet National Quality Standards,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ebony’s Law<\/p>\n
In a statement released after the coronial inquest into the toddler’s death, Ebony’s family said it had provided “much-needed clarity”.<\/p>\n