Finding into death of Sharkia Handy

Contributing factors

• inadequate supervision and boundaries at carer's home
• unsupervised access to alcohol
• lack of meaningful follow-up by Department of Human Services
• failure to communicate between school, Department, and carer
• unaddressed suicidal ideation and self-harm
• unresolved grief and abandonment issues
• severe school absenteeism (68 days) not adequately addressed
• high blood alcohol level on night of death
• lack of psychiatric assessment despite mental health concerns
• privacy considerations preventing information sharing

Coroner's recommendations

1. The supervision of the Department must be meaningful and direct. Actions taken should be followed through and acted upon or changed as circumstances dictate. The Department should institute a procedure by which this is achieved effectively and meaningfully.
2. There must be meaningful communication concerning a child under care between the Department, the carer (being the person with whom a child is placed), and the school. This communication should not be restricted by considerations of 'Privacy', where the welfare of the child in care is concerned. Each of these three parties should be fully informed of problems suffered by the child and actions taken to remedy the same.