Minister welcomes Child Death reports
Published Thursday, 02 November, 2006 at 02:37 PM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today welcomed the release of two reports on the deaths of children in Queensland.
The Premier tabled the Annual Report of the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian on the deaths of children across Queensland.
“The death of a child is hard to bear. It is so very sad to see a young life cut short.
“In the 2005-06 year 426 children died across Queensland, most of these in the first year of life. The total number was 55 fewer than in 2004-05”, Ms Boyle said.
The report indicates that:
• 297 children died from natural causes;
• 19 died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and undetermined causes;
• 93 children died from external causes including 41 in transport accidents, 18 drownings, 2 in house fires, 9 fatal assaults and 15 suicides; and
• in 17 cases the cause of death is still pending.
“The Commissioner for Children has expressed concern at the numbers of young people who have suicided, and particularly because she is concerned that suicides are under-reported.
“The Children’s Commission has started a research project into this important issue and this is to be commended,” Ms Boyle said.
The Premier also tabled a separate report - The Child Death Case Review Committee annual report 2005-06.
This Committee, chaired by the Commissioner of Children, reviews the independent investigations the Child Safety Department holds into the deaths of children who were known to the Department in the three years prior to their deaths.
The definition of a child “known” to the Department covers the whole range from a neighbour reporting parents yelling at their child through to children taken out of homes and placed under Protection Orders in alternative care.
In the 12 months to 30 June 2006, 51 of the children who died were known to the Department. Most of these children died from illness, disease or accidents.
“This is not so surprising when it is realised that a high proportion of the children known to us have been born with significant disabilities and/or have been subjected to households in which violence and drug and alcohol abuse are the norm. Six children died from fatal assaults and four young people suicided. This is a statistic that should concern us all.
“Suicide is not just an issue for the Child Safety Department and in fact there is a whole-of-government strategy to tackle suicide – Queensland Government Suicide Prevention Strategy 2003 - 2008.
“As part of this strategy, the Department is developing a practice paper for staff working with young people at risk of suicide and/or self harm.
“The Commissioner has also raised concerns about the deaths of children who have had siblings known to the Child Safety Department
“I confirm the Department will work with the Commission to address these concerns.
“In relation to other issues raised by the Commissioner, the Department has also improved guidelines for staff in relation to the protection of unborn children, improved record-keeping practices and now engages an Indigenous consultant on child death reviews where the child is identified as Indigenous.
“There are messages in these reports for all of us who have responsibilities for children, in government and the community. I commend the Commission on the quality and thoughtfulness of these reports,” Ms Boyle said.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
The Premier tabled the Annual Report of the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian on the deaths of children across Queensland.
“The death of a child is hard to bear. It is so very sad to see a young life cut short.
“In the 2005-06 year 426 children died across Queensland, most of these in the first year of life. The total number was 55 fewer than in 2004-05”, Ms Boyle said.
The report indicates that:
• 297 children died from natural causes;
• 19 died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and undetermined causes;
• 93 children died from external causes including 41 in transport accidents, 18 drownings, 2 in house fires, 9 fatal assaults and 15 suicides; and
• in 17 cases the cause of death is still pending.
“The Commissioner for Children has expressed concern at the numbers of young people who have suicided, and particularly because she is concerned that suicides are under-reported.
“The Children’s Commission has started a research project into this important issue and this is to be commended,” Ms Boyle said.
The Premier also tabled a separate report - The Child Death Case Review Committee annual report 2005-06.
This Committee, chaired by the Commissioner of Children, reviews the independent investigations the Child Safety Department holds into the deaths of children who were known to the Department in the three years prior to their deaths.
The definition of a child “known” to the Department covers the whole range from a neighbour reporting parents yelling at their child through to children taken out of homes and placed under Protection Orders in alternative care.
In the 12 months to 30 June 2006, 51 of the children who died were known to the Department. Most of these children died from illness, disease or accidents.
“This is not so surprising when it is realised that a high proportion of the children known to us have been born with significant disabilities and/or have been subjected to households in which violence and drug and alcohol abuse are the norm. Six children died from fatal assaults and four young people suicided. This is a statistic that should concern us all.
“Suicide is not just an issue for the Child Safety Department and in fact there is a whole-of-government strategy to tackle suicide – Queensland Government Suicide Prevention Strategy 2003 - 2008.
“As part of this strategy, the Department is developing a practice paper for staff working with young people at risk of suicide and/or self harm.
“The Commissioner has also raised concerns about the deaths of children who have had siblings known to the Child Safety Department
“I confirm the Department will work with the Commission to address these concerns.
“In relation to other issues raised by the Commissioner, the Department has also improved guidelines for staff in relation to the protection of unborn children, improved record-keeping practices and now engages an Indigenous consultant on child death reviews where the child is identified as Indigenous.
“There are messages in these reports for all of us who have responsibilities for children, in government and the community. I commend the Commission on the quality and thoughtfulness of these reports,” Ms Boyle said.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477