Claire Gaiter says her 3-year-old daughter, Matilda, was allegedly struck three times in the head with a shovel by another toddler at Goodstart Early Learning in Echuca, Victoria, on Feb. 4. Matilda, who is non-verbal, sustained bruises, bite marks and was diagnosed with a mild concussion after being taken to hospital. Goodstart declined to provide details citing privacy and said staffing met regulatory requirements. Gaiter has filed a police report and expects a regulatory investigation.
Mother Alleges 3-Year-Old Struck Three Times With Shovel At Australian Daycare — Child Left With Bruises, Bite Marks And Mild Concussion
Goodstart Early Learning in Echuca, Victoria, Australia.Google Maps
A mother in southeastern Australia says her 3-year-old daughter, Matilda, was struck multiple times in the head with a shovel by another toddler while at Goodstart Early Learning in Echuca, Victoria, on Feb. 4. The child, who is non-verbal, was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a mild concussion, according to the mother and local reporting.
What the Mother Says
Claire Gaiter told 7NEWS Australia she received a call from the centre that morning and rushed to collect her daughter. She says staff told her that another 3-year-old had hit Matilda in the head three times with a shovel in the sandpit and that educators were unable to intervene quickly enough.
“I was just crying. It was horrific,” Gaiter told 7NEWS. “It’s not a freak accident. It’s not something that happened quickly. It’s just horrific.”
Injuries and Medical Care
Photos shared by Gaiter show bruising to Matilda’s back, neck, the side of her head and her legs, and the mother said the child also had bite marks. After leaving the centre, Gaiter says she took Matilda to hospital, where clinicians diagnosed a mild concussion.
Responses and Investigations
Goodstart Early Learning told 7NEWS it would not share specific details to protect the privacy of the children involved. The organisation stated the centre was staffed in line with regulatory requirements and that an additional educator scheduled to support children with additional needs was due to start shortly after the incident.
Gaiter said she has filed a police report and that the local Childhood Regulatory Authority is expected to investigate. She also said she is still waiting to receive an incident report from the childcare centre.
Concerns Raised
Gaiter, who noted Matilda is non-verbal and therefore could not explain what happened, questioned what influences might lead a young child to behave violently. “You wonder what another child sees at home to think this is okay!” she wrote on Facebook.
PEOPLE and local outlet 7NEWS reported on the account; Goodstart and Gaiter did not immediately provide additional comments to PEOPLE.
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