The parents of a child who was allegedly left on a bus for five hours in northern Victoria say they want their family's story to help prevent future tragedies.
On Friday morning Shepparton man Braidon Morrison helped his three-year-old daughter, Alyza Morrison, get buckled into her seat on a daycare shuttle bus before waving her off.
That afternoon, her mum Skye Seadon drove to collect their other kids from school while Mr Morrison waited for the daycare bus to return Alyza home.
At about 3.05pm his phone rang.
"As soon as I answered the phone I had a bad gut feeling," he said.
"Just their tone of voice, I knew something was wrong."
Family's nightmare
A Lulla's Children and Family Centre staff member allegedly told Mr Morrison that Alyza had been found on their daycare bus at about 2.45pm and was being looked over by paramedics.
A short time later she was taken by ambulance to the local hospital, Goulburn Valley Health, to be treated for heat stress.
She remained overnight, experiencing dehydration and a high temperature.
Ms Seadon said her daughter was "very sad" and "broken" at the hospital on Friday night.
"She had obviously been screaming for help [on the bus] but no-one could hear her," she said.
Ms Seadon said Alyza had been woken by nightmares every evening since.
"The nights have been pretty rough, she's been waking up and having to get in our bed," she said.
"She wasn't like that before."
Searching for answers
Mr Morrison said he was still processing what had happened, and he was thankful Friday wasn't a hotter day.
"I just don't want anyone else to feel the way I did that day I got that phone call," Mr Morrison said.
"I thought the worst straight away."
Ms Seadon said it was traumatising and she wanted answers.
"How did they miss Alyza?"
She urged staff at early childhood centres around Australia to remain vigilant when helping children disembark shuttle buses.
"Make sure they're all accounted for," she said.
Ms Seadon said she spoke to the director of Lulla's on Friday evening, who apologised sincerely.
"But she couldn't give me any answers as to why it happened," she said.
The Victorian Department of Education and Training is looking into the matter.
A department spokesperson said the health and safety of children was always their priority.
"We are investigating the incident and will take necessary action to ensure children are kept safe," the spokesperson said.
