❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding child deaths investigated by the Ombudsman and their contact with the child protection system. The response provides some data but cites limitations in data collection for certain aspects.
AnsweredQoN 37Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many children who have died in the last 4 years were investigated by the WA Ombudsman and had any contacts with the statutory child protection system? (2) How many of the children in (1) spent any period of time on a Nominated Liaison Officer list? (3) How many of the deaths in (1) were multiple children in the same family? (4) How many of the children in (1) were aged: (a) 0-2; (b) 3-5; (c) 6-10; (d) 10-14; and (e) 14-17?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 May 2025
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
6 days
The Department of Communities (Communities) advises:
(1) In the last four years from 1 January 2021 to 14 April 2025, 243 child deaths met the criteria for an investigable death by the Ombudsman Western Australia (Ombudsman).
The Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971 sets out the circumstances for a death to be investigable by the WA Ombudsman which are:
a) in the 2 years before the date of the child’s death, the CEO had received information that raised concerns about the wellbeing of the child or a child relative of the child;
b) in the 2 years before the date of the child’s death, the CEO, under section 32(1) of the CCS Act, had determined that action should be taken to safeguard or promote the wellbeing of the child or a child relative of the child;
c) in the 2 years before the date of the child’s death, any of the actions listed in section 32(1) of the CCS Act was done in respect of the child or a child relative of the child;
d) protection proceedings are pending in respect of the child or a child relative of the child;
e) the child or a child relative of the child is in the CEO’s care.
(2 – 3) Communities does not capture this data in a reportable format.
Information about child deaths is contained on individual client files, with aggregated data not available. As such, Communities would need to conduct a manual review of individual files which would take significant time, and diversion of frontline resources.
(4) See table below:
Age Group
Child Deaths
0-2
132
3-5
15
6-10
23
11-14
32
15-17
37
DOB not recorded
4
Total
243
It is noted this question as originally asked contained overlapping age ranges, and Communities has responded using amended age ranges (i.e. 11-14 and 15-17) to avoid double counting.
In the above table, the ‘DOB not recorded’ group represents children who were not recorded or known to Communities prior to or at the time of their death. If the Ombudsman has not provided the DOB to Communities as a part of their notification, then the child’s DOB will be unknown.
(1) In the last four years from 1 January 2021 to 14 April 2025, 243 child deaths met the criteria for an investigable death by the Ombudsman Western Australia (Ombudsman).
The Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971 sets out the circumstances for a death to be investigable by the WA Ombudsman which are:
a) in the 2 years before the date of the child’s death, the CEO had received information that raised concerns about the wellbeing of the child or a child relative of the child;
b) in the 2 years before the date of the child’s death, the CEO, under section 32(1) of the CCS Act, had determined that action should be taken to safeguard or promote the wellbeing of the child or a child relative of the child;
c) in the 2 years before the date of the child’s death, any of the actions listed in section 32(1) of the CCS Act was done in respect of the child or a child relative of the child;
d) protection proceedings are pending in respect of the child or a child relative of the child;
e) the child or a child relative of the child is in the CEO’s care.
(2 – 3) Communities does not capture this data in a reportable format.
Information about child deaths is contained on individual client files, with aggregated data not available. As such, Communities would need to conduct a manual review of individual files which would take significant time, and diversion of frontline resources.
(4) See table below:
Age Group
Child Deaths
0-2
132
3-5
15
6-10
23
11-14
32
15-17
37
DOB not recorded
4
Total
243
It is noted this question as originally asked contained overlapping age ranges, and Communities has responded using amended age ranges (i.e. 11-14 and 15-17) to avoid double counting.
In the above table, the ‘DOB not recorded’ group represents children who were not recorded or known to Communities prior to or at the time of their death. If the Ombudsman has not provided the DOB to Communities as a part of their notification, then the child’s DOB will be unknown.
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