A proprietor company operating a children's service under the Children's Services Act 1996 (Vic) can be held criminally liable under ss 26(1) and 27(1) for the failures of its low-level employees (such as child care workers) to protect and supervise children, without any need to establish systemic failure, management breakdown, or employment of insufficient or underqualified staff. The offences are committed by objective non-compliance with the specified standard, and the concurrent liability of staff under ss 26(2) and 27(2) does not diminish the proprietor's liability.
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