❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the deaths of children in or known to the Department for Child Protection and Family Support during 2015-16. The answer provides some figures but withholds specific details to protect privacy and defers to the Coroner for cause of death.
AnsweredQoN 4290Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the deaths of children in the care of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support, and I ask: (a) how many children died while in the care of the CEO during 2015-16; (b) in relation to the answer to (a), what was the month and the attributed reason for each death; (c) how many children who were known to the department died in 2015-16 and in which month did each death occur; and (d) in regard to the answer to (c), what was the month and the attributed reason for each death?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 October 2016
Responded by
Minister for Planning representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
56 days
a) Three children in the Department for Child Protection and Family Support’s (the Department’s) CEO’s care died during 2015-2016.
b) Due to the small numbers involved, the Department is unable to publically release dates or months of death for these three children due to risk of identifying the child, their biological family and siblings, the carer and other children. All three children had experienced significant medical/health related issues. The cause of death will be determined by the Coroner and the cases will be subject to a mandated inquest.
c) The Department for Child Protection and Family Support received 84 Notifications for Child Deaths involving sudden and/or unexpected circumstances during 2015-2016.
This figure only represents the Child Deaths that are Reportable under the Coroner’s Act and those deaths that are reported by the Coroner to the Department in accordance with the Information Sharing Protocol for sudden and unexpected deaths of children up to the age of 18 years. This figure doesn’t represent all child deaths in Western Australia.
The Department had some prior contact in 61 of the 84 cases. Prior contact with the Department can be any form of contact and includes one off request for financial assistance, telephone query about community resources (e.g. day care and counselling), contact as a referrer or current open case.
d) The Department is only advised of the initial circumstance around the child’s death. The cause of death is determined by the Coroner. Information in relation to the month of death and attributed reason for each death needs to be obtained from the Coroner.
b) Due to the small numbers involved, the Department is unable to publically release dates or months of death for these three children due to risk of identifying the child, their biological family and siblings, the carer and other children. All three children had experienced significant medical/health related issues. The cause of death will be determined by the Coroner and the cases will be subject to a mandated inquest.
c) The Department for Child Protection and Family Support received 84 Notifications for Child Deaths involving sudden and/or unexpected circumstances during 2015-2016.
This figure only represents the Child Deaths that are Reportable under the Coroner’s Act and those deaths that are reported by the Coroner to the Department in accordance with the Information Sharing Protocol for sudden and unexpected deaths of children up to the age of 18 years. This figure doesn’t represent all child deaths in Western Australia.
The Department had some prior contact in 61 of the 84 cases. Prior contact with the Department can be any form of contact and includes one off request for financial assistance, telephone query about community resources (e.g. day care and counselling), contact as a referrer or current open case.
d) The Department is only advised of the initial circumstance around the child’s death. The cause of death is determined by the Coroner. Information in relation to the month of death and attributed reason for each death needs to be obtained from the Coroner.
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