Arabic version: مقدّما رعاية بالتبني يحثّان على إصلاح حماية الأطفال بعد وفاة رضيعة
According to ABC News, the former foster carers of an eight-month-old Ballarat girl who died days after being returned to her biological parents say the child-protection system failed to keep her safe. Rebecca and Michael, names changed for legal reasons, cared for the baby, referred to as Mia, for six months after she entered foster care at three weeks old.
Michael said Mia had previously suffered internal injuries when she came into their care. Medical notes seen by ABC News recorded signs of “traumatic injury”, including bruising. Under an Interim Accommodation Order, the girl spent four hours a day, five days a week, with her biological parents through supervised visits while court proceedings considered her future arrangements.
The foster carers said hearings were repeatedly adjourned while authorities waited for a report into Mia’s original injuries, which they later learned was inconclusive. They said Child and Family Services and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing were uncomfortable with returning the child to her parents, but the court ordered Tweddle to assess whether the parents could care for her. The ABC understands both parents were approved after two rounds of a 10-day residential parenting course.
Three days after Mia’s return, emergency services found her unresponsive at a Ballarat home on September 20. Victoria Police said CPR was performed before she was taken to a local hospital shortly after 1pm and later transferred to a Melbourne hospital, where she died on September 22. Police would not comment on an active homicide squad investigation. DFFH said it could not discuss individual cases subject to an ongoing police investigation and described the death of any child as tragic.
Children and Family Service chief executive Wendy Sturgess said the death was tragic for the community and that it indicated something had not worked. The ABC understands three children in Ballarat have died while in child protection this year, including a 17-year-old in June and a teenager in kinship care in April.
