Child Protection Department chief executive Jackie Bray reflects on her first year in the top job

Relatives of at-risk children who have died while in the sights of the state’s child protection system have welcomed a surprise new move - and hope it will improve accountability.

Child protection boss Jackie Bray has promised to publish the number of children who die each year while on the radar of her department, starting with data to be released in this year’s annual report.

The pledge follows a campaign by The Advertiser for more transparency around the deaths of at-risk children, and has been welcome by relatives of children who have died after concerns about their safety were reported to authorities.

Jackie Bray has reflected on the first year as CEO of the Department of Child Protection. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

In an exclusive interview marking the end of her first year at the helm of the Department for Child Protection (DCP) Ms Bray also said a new panel to fast-track reviews of child deaths would be operating by the end of the year.

“That’s been at the front of my mind all the time, that those types of horrific, terrible incidents happen sadly around children, (and) they’re part of our community,” Ms Bray said.

“It certainly resonated with me, (The Advertiser’s) level of inquiry, and (thinking) ‘Why wouldn’t we disclose how many children that have sadly passed that have been, or are, involved in the child protection system?’.

Janet Wells, whose grandchildren died after repeated reports to the child protection hotline, said proactively releasing information was “huge step forward” and would help keep DCP accountable.

Ms Wells’ grandchildren, Amber Rigney and Korey Mitchell, were killed alongside their mother Yvette Rigney-Wilson by her then-partner Steven Graham Peet in 2016.

There had been multiple red flags raised about their safety prior to the murders.

Ms Wells said currently the public only learned of deaths of at-risk children if they received media coverage or went to court.

“It’s obviously confronting, but all these kids need to be acknowledged,” she said.

“(Publishing the numbers) is shining a light in a little dark spot in the system.”

To date, the numbers have only been released following Freedom of Information requests and subsequent queries by The Advertiser.

In February The Advertiser reported 17 young people living in state care, or known to the system, died in 2023, including nine youngsters under the age of 10.

Ms Bray confirmed that a new process to review child deaths would be in place by the end of the year. . Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Ms Bray held a wide ranging interview with The Advertiser. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

It followed reporting in January 2023 that 58 children had died between 2019 and 2022.

Within days of that coverage former DCP boss Cathy Taylor resigned from her post, after more than six years at the helm.

Ms Bray replaced her in June last year.

She confirmed that a new process to review child deaths more quickly would be in place by the end of the year.

It would bring together child protection, health, education and other government agencies to examine their involvement with a child and their family without waiting for police, coronial or court processes.

“If there’s any service improvements we need to be able to look at that straight away,” Ms Bray said.

During a wide-ranging interview Ms Bray also told The Advertiser that:

214 children in state care have been reunited with their birth parents so far this financial year.

266 families, with a total 508 children, have taken part in family group conferences designed to find alternative ways to keep at-risk children safe with relatives.

117 Aboriginal families, with 230 children, were among them.

90 per cent of all children involved in the conferences have been able to remain living safely with family.

“This is the way to go, it’s the right thing to be doing,” Ms Bray said.

“It’s a tough role where we are faced with those terrible decisions (to remove children from parents).

“I’m determined that we’re doing to see a huge increase in that area (of family conferences).”