What we know about the death of three-year-old girl in Whyalla

The state opposition has called for more transparency around the case of a three-year-old girl who died in Whyalla this year. Here’s everything we know.

It has been several months since a three-year-old girl died in Whyalla but the cause of her death and other circumstances around the incident remain unknown.

Despite calls for more transparency around the case, the state government maintains it is unable to release more information.

Here is what we do know about the incident.

What do we know?

In August, The Advertiser reported the state government had been alerted to the death of a three-year-old girl in Whyalla in May.

Her death was reported to the Coroner and investigated “in accordance with usual practice” but the Coroners Court said it was unable to comment publicly on specific details “to maintain confidentiality”.

Freedom of Information documents obtained by the ABC revealed following the toddler’s death the Department for Child Protection (DCP) lodged a significant incident report.

Significant incidents, department states, are “events that occur as a result of, or during the delivery of, services directly provided or funded by the department, that cause or are likely to cause significant negative impacts on the health, safety or wellbeing of clients, staff or others involved in the event”.

Those documents also note the girl’s death could become the subject of media attention.

The toddler was not in state care at the time of her death but at least one of her siblings has since been removed from her family and placed in state care.

The Advertiser earlier reported alarms had been raised with authorities before the child’s death.

The case was brought to light following inquiries by The Advertiser despite promises from the head of the DCP to be more transparent about the deaths of at-risk children.

Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard was notified of the girl’s death in May. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

Government response

Further Freedom of Information documents obtained by the ABC reveal following the toddler’s death, Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard was provided with two parliamentary briefing notes by the Department for Child Protection. However, those documents were completely redacted.

When questioned over the incident, both Ms Hildyard and the department said they were unable to reveal much more.

In parliament, Ms Hildyard said the Department for Child Protection has yet to be formally notified of the cause of the girl’s death.

Asked by the Opposition why a significant incident was declared by the Department in relation to the toddler’s death, she would say only she required the department to notify her about a range of significant incidents.

“Because when we are notified of these matters that is the right thing as the minister but it also gives us the opportunity to deeply think about and inquire into what supports are around particular children and their families,” she told parliament.

She would not comment on how many abuse reports or notifications were made to the department in relation to the child due to legislative and “other requirements” to keep details about the family confidential.

A spokesperson for the department said it did not hold information about the child’s cause of death.

“Some of the material sought under FOI is unable to be disclosed under law,” the spokesperson said.

“A broad range of matters can prompt a significant incident report including the serious injury or death of a child or young person, a data breach or network system failure.”

Josh Teague, the opposition’s spokesman for child protection, has called for more transparency about the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.

“Stonewalling by the minister is not good enough,” he said.

Heysen MP Josh Teague. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

What happens next?

Ms Hildyard said the department “will continue to fulsomely brief me on this matter”.

Mr Teague said it could take more than six years for the Coroner to release information about the girl’s death should it decide to hold an inquest.

Law Society of SA Criminal Law Committee co-chair Craig Caldicott told ABC Radio last week he thought the government should be able to provide a report on the matter since it was surrounded by speculation.