A Sydney childcare worker accused of duct taping a young boy with a disability while laughing it off as a joke, says she was framed by a disgruntled manager.
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Jennifer Helen Wood, 33, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault in Sydney in 2017.
Her lawyer said the allegations led to her dismissal and arose in suspicious circumstances six months after she made several formal complaints about the chief executive of the childcare centre.
The centre's director told Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday she reported the incident in October 2020 after receiving complaints about Wood from parents.
The witness said in mid-2017 she watched the four-year-old boy walking out of a bathroom with his hands tied in front of his body, while Wood pushed him from behind.
"He had down syndrome, he didn't understand he was just looking at me," she said.
"I asked her 'why you do that?' ... she was just laughing saying it was just a joke."
Barrister Catherine Newman, representing Wood, questioned why the director had previously made reports of other minor incidents, knowing her obligations to do so, but had failed to report this incident.
The witness said she thought someone else had lodged a report.
In April 2020 Wood filed several complaints against the chief executive of the childcare centre, relating to managerial issues.
Wood said her boss then called a meeting interrogating and intimidating her, and said he was "heartbroken" she made such accusations.
Wood further complained to the board of directors, including that she no longer felt safe in the manager's presence.
In October 2020 a meeting was called with Wood and the board, and interventions were put in place regarding her "poor work performance," the court was told.
Ms Newman accused the chief executive and the centre's director of subsequently working in conjunction to falsify serious misconduct claims against Wood.
"You agreed together to fabricate these allegations."
Both witnesses denied lying about the incident.
Ms Newman submitted that the pair deliberately chose a boy with a disability who could not respond to questions about what happened.
The chief executive denied the allegation, saying other people had seen the incident.
The judge-alone hearing continues.
Australian Associated Press
