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Busy Bees Baldivis facing multiple cases of child sexual abuse

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Indigo Lemay-ConwaySound Telegraph
Busy Bees Baldivis is facing allegations of child abuse.
Camera IconBusy Bees Baldivis is facing allegations of child abuse. Credit: Supplied

A local daycare centre is at the centre of chilling sexual abuse allegations as parents claim their children have been assaulted by other children under the age of five.

The parents, who wish to be kept anonymous, made the accusations against Busy Bees Baldivis, claiming their three-year-old daughter told them she had been sexually abused by another child.

“When they start talking about things that they don’t understand, you know your child doesn’t understand the words they are saying even, and the actions they’re making, it’s quite hard,” the father told 7NEWS.

Another mother also claims her young daughter was sexually abused weeks earlier after witnessing a sex act in a cubby house at the daycare centre. She alerted the centre via email in September.

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“From the very first case, there have been multiple cases for a month and a half,” the father said.

A third child from the centre revealed he was also sexually abused, telling his mother at the dinner table of the experience.

“My son said that he told the educator (of the abuse),” the mother said.

She contacted the centre over the “vile” story, and the centre responded saying they were aware of it. As a result of the alleged abuse, the four-year-old boy now refuses to undress in front of his parents.

The parents believe there have been three abusers, all under the age of five.

“I know my son is safe now, I know the other kids that’s been removed are safe with their parents. We don’t know what’s happening to the other boys that are involved,” the mother said.

The allegations have to be investigated by the Department of Communities as WA Police won’t investigate when the alleged perpetrators are under the age of 10.

A Department of Communities spokesperson said a department education and care regulatory unit investigation is ongoing.

“The Department of Communities is only able to make comments about investigation or compliance actions where it is expressly provided for under the law,” the spokesperson said.

“There are penalties for offences by an Approved Provider if a centre is found to be in breach of the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012. Approved Providers have an obligation for the safety and wellbeing of registered children.”

Busy Bees Early Learning Australia chief executive Robert Hughes confirmed the September incident and said it was supporting the Department of Communities investigation.

“We have also reinforced our supervision protocols with all staff and the proactive monitoring of interactions of all children,” he said.

These reports come after another local childcare centre was fined $25,000 last month for not providing proper first aid to a young boy whose arm was burnt by a scalding tea.

Bluebird Early Learning Centre became one of 43 childcare or Out of School Hours Care centres that have had action taken against them for serious safety breaches since 2019.

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

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