Darwin daycare fined $40,000 over toddler's death on fence
A Darwin daycare was fined $40,000 and a childcare worker $2,000 after a 22-month-old died on a fence.
Ebony Thompson, aged 22 months, died in 2023 when her neck became stuck on a loop-top fence at a Darwin daycare. Childcare worker Casandra Lee Harris and the Humpty Doo Community and Child Care Centre pleaded guilty to failing to protect children from harm and inadequately supervising them.
The court fined the centre $40,000 and Harris $2,000. Judge Stephen Geary said it was the first time such prosecutions had come before a Northern Territory court.
The centre had missed an opportunity to fix the blind spot where Ebony became trapped. It also failed to ensure staff walked through the area to check on children.
Ebony's parents are campaigning for 'Ebony's Law' to ban loop-top fencing at childcare facilities.
- Ebony Thompson, 22 months old
- Victim
- $40,000
- Centre fined
- $2,000
- Worker fined
- Humpty Doo, southeast of Darwin
- Location
Why it mattersParents and childcare providers need to know that safety breaches can result in prosecution and substantial fines for facilities and workers.
AustraliaAustralian childcare providers face potential legal consequences for supervision failures and unsafe conditions, with fines reaching tens of thousands of dollars.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
