Faith, an 8 year old child

Contributing factors

• Inadequate investigation by Department in May 2009 resulting in dismissal of valid allegations
• Incomplete investigation and assessment in November 2010 prior to return to mother's care
• Premature return of child to mother after only 9 days despite history of abuse
• Failure to arrange medical examination of child
• Failure to interview extended family members and stepfather
• Inadequate engagement by ACT for Kids with family
• Failure of ACT for Kids to notify Department of non-engagement
• Lack of communication between Department and school regarding protective monitoring role
• School removed as protective factor when child removed from enrollment
• Extended family's failure to report known abuse to authorities
• Departmental staff workload and resource constraints
• Inability to track child's absence from school system for one year
• Lack of information sharing between government agencies (Department, schools, Centrelink)

Coroner's recommendations

1. The Department respond to notifications from DETE with: confirmation of receipt, whether assessed as child concern report or child protection notification, name of team leader assigned to investigation, and direct contact details of that team leader
2. The Department update its practice manual to mandate that when a child concern report is recorded at Regional Intake Service and relates to a notification closed for less than 30 days, email the information to the appropriate child safety officer
3. ACT for Kids update its practice manual to clearly require email notification to the referrer advising of case closure on basis of non-engagement
4. The Department include in service agreements with Intensive Family Support Services the requirement that case closures on basis of non-engagement are notified to the referrer
5. The Department notify all parties to current Service Agreements utilizing CSIS that: the Department does not have access to personal client information or identified information on CSIS; information entered into CSIS by service providers is not accessible by the Department; and the Department is only able to view referral information for families referred by Child Safety Services
6. The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services engage at earliest opportunity with Centrelink, Department of Education Training and Employment, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Health and non-state school sector representatives to consider feasibility of information sharing system allowing agencies access to Centrelink customer information including name, address and telephone details for school-aged children, their nominated carers and school-aged siblings, considering Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry recommendations
7. The Department consider launching a public awareness campaign, particularly in Far North Queensland, promoting that child protection is the responsibility of every community member and emphasizing the Department's role in supporting families