Inquest into the death of Harmony

Contributing factors

• longstanding neglect
• family violence
• school disengagement and suspensions
• homelessness and unstable accommodation
• breach of Family Court orders
• failure of DCJ to act on known risks despite correct triage screening
• lack of closure and permanency planning
• inadequate support for informal carers
• cumulative trauma and isolation
• absence of suitable alternatives to school suspension for vulnerable students

Coroner's recommendations

1. DCJ should provide written guidance to triage practitioners about support for community/family members who do not hold parental responsibility but are providing care to a child, including counselling resources and parenting support
2. DCJ should issue communications to triage practitioners explaining DCJ's direction to provide supports, referrals and information regardless of whether the person is a parent or a family/community member caring for a child
3. DoE should prioritise redesign of the Home School Liaison Program as a matter of urgency, taking into account the Draft Evaluation Report and inquest findings
4. DoE should review its suspension policy to ensure it adequately addresses needs of children experiencing abuse, neglect and homelessness, including consideration of suspensions in places external to the home environment when the home presents a risk
5. DoE should amend suspension policy to mandate consideration of the impact of school holidays when setting a suspension period, with particular consideration of using commencement of new term as a reset
6. DoE should develop procedures for students subject to suspension who are not in care of person holding parental responsibility, addressing: to whom correspondence is issued; and whether expectations of parental/carer engagement continue and who is responsible for engagement during suspension
7. DoE should consider using Harmony's experience as a case study for training DoE staff on the impact of suspensions on school connectedness