A West Australian childcare centre has been fined after a two-year-old girl was left unsupervised on a bus for almost two hours.
The girl was inadvertently left on the bus for about an hour and 45 minutes after it arrived at the Coolabaroo Neighbourhood Centre at Thornlie in Perth's southeast last November, the Department of Communities said on Friday.
It said the girl was administratively signed into the centre despite still being on the bus.
"About 30-40 minutes after dropping children off at the service, the bus driver drove the vehicle from the centre to fill up with fuel, not knowing the girl was still on board," the department said in a statement.
"Later that morning, a staff member completed a head count in the centre and realised the girl was not there.
"The girl was found on the bus 25 minutes after it returned to the centre."
In a judgment published on Friday, the State Administrative Tribunal issued a $10,000 fine to the centre's operator Moorditch Gurlongga Association Incorporated for breaching a legal requirement to supervise enrolled children.
Department executive Paul Isaachsen said it was crucial that childcare operators undertook thorough checks when transporting children.
"Despite this being the first breach of this nature by the Coolabaroo Neighbourhood Centre, the circumstances that led to a child being left on the bus were not acceptable," he said.
"Being approved to operate a childcare service in Western Australia carries significant responsibilities and obligations to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the enrolled children."
Australian Associated Press
