"73 at-risk children die in Queensland "
- Details
- Category: Queensland Child Protection Services
- Created: Sunday, 04 November 2012 23:30
- Written by news.com.au
A QUEENSLAND child who had been placed in the care of an alleged sex offender was one of scores of children known to the state's child protection system who died in the year to July.
The Queensland Child Death Case Review Committee's 2011/12 annual report shows 73 children - from babies to 17-year-olds - died in the year who were known to the Department of Child Safety, eight more than the year before.
Of the 73, 27 died of disease or morbid conditions, five died of sudden infant death syndrome and undetermined causes, 11 perished in transport incidents, five drowned, four were fatally assaulted, and six committed suicide, one of whom was just nine years old.
The committee commended the department for carrying out "sufficiently comprehensive" responses to 63 of the children while they were alive. It said a further six cases were sufficient but contained minor errors.
But the department's responses to four cases were found to be insufficient.
In one of the four cases, a child was placed, without adequate investigation, with a relative who had a history of sexual abuse allegations.
The department's response was found lacking in the other three cases because staff did not appropriately analyse the risks of domestic violence and substance misuses.
The report found the "actions or inactions of the service system were linked" to the death of a four-month-old child who died from a medical condition.
The baby had been classified as very high risk even before its birth because its siblings had extensive history with the department.
The department failed to visit the baby at home after its birth, despite knowing the home was rife with domestic violence, illicit drug abuse, physical harm and neglect of children's basic needs.
Of the 73 children who died, 61 were living at home, four were in hospital, four were with foster carers, one was in a residential facility, two were living independently and one was self-placed.
Many of the families had complex multiple issues. Some 42 children had one or both parents with a criminal history, 41 families had domestic violence issues, 40 parents misused substances, and 24 parents had mental health issues.
Eight of the children had contact with the youth justice system, with four having spent time in a youth detention centre. (Source : http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/at-risk-children-die-in-queensland/story-e6frfku9-1226511005065#ixzz2SnaVOQTA)
