UPDATE: A 24-year-old childcare worker has been sentenced to an 18-month Community Correction Order following a disturbing incident where she caused a 2-centimetre-long laceration to a toddler’s head. The sentencing took place at Bathurst Local Court on November 3, 2025, after the worker, Maija Rose Hart, pleaded guilty to reckless wounding.
The incident occurred on August 7, 2025, at a childcare center in the Bathurst area, where Hart was responsible for 17 children. According to police documents, she attempted to force a child to lie down on a stretcher bed around 12:20 PM. The toddler resisted, which led Hart to grab the child with excessive force, resulting in a serious injury that required medical attention.
In a heart-wrenching victim impact statement, the child’s father expressed the emotional toll of the incident, stating, “No parent should ever have to write a statement like this.” He described his son as “scared to go to bed” and experiencing nightmares since the event. The father’s anguish highlighted the profound impact on their family, saying, “Watching that fear replace his joy has been absolutely devastating.”
Police reports indicate that Hart’s actions demonstrated a complete disregard for the child’s safety. Even after causing the injury, she continued to restrain the child for an alarming 53 seconds without recognizing the severity of the situation. The child eventually required treatment at Bathurst Hospital, where his injury was assessed and medically treated.
During the court proceedings, Hart’s solicitor, Evan Dowd, argued that she was “overworked and overwhelmed” at the time of the incident and lacked intent in her actions. Despite acknowledging that her behavior was inappropriate, he emphasized that she acted immediately upon realizing the child was injured. Dowd noted that Hart had worked in childcare for seven years and had sought psychological help following the incident due to intense online harassment.
The court acknowledged the gravity of Hart’s actions, especially given her professional obligation to care for vulnerable children. Magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith characterized the child’s vulnerability and the exploitation of a power imbalance, stating, “It was not premeditated, and Hart had shown remorse.”
Hart’s Community Correction Order includes conditions for continued psychological therapy until deemed unnecessary, reflecting the court’s commitment to rehabilitation rather than punitive measures. The maximum penalty for reckless wounding in this context can reach up to seven years in prison, but the court opted for this alternative given the circumstances.
As this case unfolds, it raises significant concerns about the standards of care in childcare facilities and the emotional well-being of affected families. The child’s father concluded his statement by asserting that no punishment could erase the trauma endured by his son, emphasizing, “It was not a mistake, but a betrayal of trust.”
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability in childcare settings and the lasting impacts such incidents can have on young children and their families. Further developments are anticipated as the community grapples with the implications of this incident.
