“I thought the worst. Yeah, I just instantly thought the worst.”
That was Braidon Morrison’s reaction when he received the call alerting him that his three-year-old daughter, Alyza, was being taken to hospital having been discovered on a bus around six hours after being picked up for daycare.
“Yeah, we both did,” Alyza’s mum, Skye Seadon, said.
They say Alyza had been picked up by the Lulla’s Children and Family Centre bus at 9.15am on Friday, March 8, but was left on the bus until she was discovered around three o’clock that afternoon.
“As soon as I heard their voice I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t think it was anything like that,” Mr Morrison said.
Ms Seadon said the reality of the situation had been a shock to the whole family, particularly given a three-year-old boy died after being left on a childcare bus in Queensland in 2020 and a three-year-old girl survived similar circumstances, also in Queensland, last year, but only after being treated in intensive care.
“We were crying before we even got to the hospital,” she said.
“I stayed with Alyza in the hospital and I woke up at six o’clock in the morning and realised where we were and why we were there. I was very emotional.”
Shepparton recorded a temperature of 25.7ºC at 3pm on Friday and Mr Morrison said he had felt guilty since the incident for placing her in a seat where she could not reach the window.
“I felt bad because I put her at the back of the bus and the seat she chose wasn't on the window side like it normally is,” he said.
“If she was on the window side she would have been able to bang on the window when they (daycare children) were out playing at play time.”
Ms Seadon said Alyza could see the centre going about its daily business while sitting in her seat during the day.
“She (Alyza) said she could see the kindy kids out there playing and stuff,” Ms Seadon said.
Mr Morrison said Alyza had not spoken much about the incident, but confided in her five-year-old sister, Evie, that she had tried to raise peoples’ attention.
“I was watching TV and I overheard their conversation and this one here (Alyza) was saying to her sister (Evie), ‘I was yelling out on the bus and they couldn’t hear me’,” Mr Morrison said.
The experience has compounded a challenging period for the family, with Alyza’s parents saying they must leave their rental property within a month for it to be refurbished after being flooded last October, and then sold.
“Hopefully something comes along,” Ms Seadon said.
“Even housing is hard at the moment, but yeah, we’ll pull through.”
Police say they are investigating the matter, as does the Victorian Department of Education and Training.
A departmental spokesperson said it was notified on Friday that “a child was left alone and unsupervised on a bus operated by an early childhood service” and that an inquiry had been launched.
“We are investigating the incident and will take necessary action to ensure children are kept safe,” the spokesperson said.
Lulla’s Children and Family Centre has issued a statement acknowledging the incident.
“On Friday, March 10, a three-year-old toddler that attends Lulla’s Children and Family Centre was taken to hospital and treated for dehydration, after spending an extended period of time on the centre’s bus,” the statement said.
“The child’s parents were informed immediately, and the child was released from hospital into their care the next morning, after overnight observation.
“Lulla’s board of management are working with the Department of Education and other relevant agencies to ensure this matter has been accurately reported and outcomes are enacted immediately.
“The staff and family affected have been offered counselling to support them through this process.
“Lulla’s Children and Family Centre supports and respects its children, their families and our employees. Children’s safety is paramount, and we aim to take all practical steps to protect them from any form of harm.”