November 29, 2006
Sydney Morning Herald
A report into child deaths in NSW has highlighted ongoing failures in the state's child protection systems, with previously identified problems still occurring.
A report from Ombudsman Bruce Barbour, tabled in the NSW parliament, deals with 117 "reviewable" child deaths in 2005.
The cases include those of children who had been the subject of a report to the Department of Community Services (DOCS) or whose siblings had been the subject of such a report.
The ombudsman also reviewed the deaths of children who died in suspicious circumstances, or as a result of neglect or abuse.
Mr Barbour said 54 of the children who died in 2005 had parents with a history of substance abuse, three died from methadone poisoning and 14 had mothers who used illicit drugs or alcohol during pregnancy.
The report found previously identified problems, such as government agencies failing to consistently recognise when a child might be at risk, were still occurring.
Mr Barbour said DOCS did not always respond to, or assess, reports of children being at risk and there were problems with coordination between agencies.
"While DOCS and other agencies have been working to improve their responses to children at risk, the concerns we have identified have remained largely consistent," he said in a statement.
Opposition youth affairs spokeswoman Catherine Cusack said she was alarmed that 60 reviewable deaths of babies aged under 12 months had occurred in 2005, up from 35 in 2004.
She said the government was failing to deal with child protection issues.
"Clearly, they have not only not got their act together but the number of deaths of babies is actually increasing, and that's just a disgrace," Ms Cusack told reporters.
Community Services Minister Reba Meagher said the government would continue its DOCS reform program.
"The ombudsman's rightly identified that in 2005 things should have been done better. We accept that," Ms Meagher told reporters.
"We've always said that rebuilding an agency with a troubled history like DOCS is going to take some time."
NSW Council of Social Service acting director Michelle Burrell said the report showed better systems were needed to identify risk, referral and response.
"This includes not closing files prematurely," Ms Burrell said.
"The ombudsman's report ... is a reminder that we can do better and that effective systems will make a difference to children's lives."
© 2006 AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Child-protection-failing-in-NSW-report/2006/11/29/1164776229201.html