Children Escape Canberra Daycare, Second Incident in Six Years

Two five-year-old boys escaped the Majura Early Childhood Centre in Dickson, Canberra, on Monday, October 12, 2026, scaling a two-meter fence and prompting a police search before being returned to their families. This incident marks the second time children have escaped the centre in six years[3][6].

This event raises serious questions about the safety protocols and supervision standards at the Majura Early Childhood Centre, impacting parents' trust and highlighting the need for robust regulatory oversight in childcare facilities[2][3].

What the Records Show

The two five-year-old children reportedly used an upturned toy box or wooden bench to climb a two-meter high Colorbond fence to leave the Majura Early Childhood Centre during the preschool rest period[2][3][5][6]. Members of the public located the boys near Dickson College and alerted ACT Policing[2][3][8]. Police found the children around 1:50 PM and contacted their parents[3]. The father of one child expressed distress, stating he received a call from police before hearing from the centre directly[3]. He and the child's mother subsequently lodged a formal complaint and withdrew both children from the service[1][3]. The father reportedly stated, "The whole point of putting our kids into childcare is to make sure that they're being watched and being supervised. And if they can't even do that, then they failed their duty of care"[3].

The Incident and Response

Northside Community Service, the centre's provider, issued an apology and acknowledged the distress caused to the children, their parents, and other families[2][3][5]. Dan English, CEO of Northside Community Service, stated, “We sincerely apologise for the incident”[2][5]. The provider has initiated an independent external investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and reported the matter to the ACT childcare regulator, Children's Education and Care Assurance (CECA)[2][5][6]. ACT Child Development Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith described the incident as “extremely concerning” and affirmed that she would monitor the investigation[2][6]. CECA confirmed it received information from Northside and is assessing whether further investigation or regulatory action is required[2]. Northside has added resources to the centre following the incident[6].

A Previous Escape

Documents released by the ACT Legislative Assembly reveal a similar incident at the same Majura Early Childhood Centre in October 2020[6]. During that event, two children were unaccounted for, and one of them managed to escape the premises[6].

Centre Ratings and Management

The Majura Early Childhood Centre holds an overall rating of "Exceeding National Quality Standard (NQS)"[2][6]. One source indicates this rating was issued in December 2023[2], while another reports it followed a 2024 assessment[6]. In the December 2023 assessment, Quality Area 2 (Children's health and safety) and Quality Area 3 (Physical environment) were both rated as "Meeting NQS"[2]. Northside Community Service's leadership team includes Dan English as CEO and Ashleigh Bellingham as Executive Manager, Children's Services[4]. The centre is located at 2 Rosevear Place, Dickson ACT 2602[4][7].

What We Could Not Confirm

The precise duration the children were away from the service remains unclear[2]. The exact time when educators became aware of the children's absence has not been publicly detailed[2]. The full extent of measures taken by Northside Community Service, beyond initiating an investigation, has not been publicly released[2]. The findings from the independent investigation are not yet public[2].