Three-year-old girl known to government authorities before her death in Whyalla in May

A little girl has been taken into state care after the death of her older sister, as it can be revealed her family was known to authorities before she died.

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

Alarms were raised with authorities before the death of a three-year-old girl in Whyalla earlier this year, it can be revealed.

At least one of her siblings – a younger sister – has since been removed from her family and placed in state care.

The Advertiser can confirm Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard was notified of the girl’s death on May 10.

It is understood she died late the previous day.

SA Police said a report was being prepared for the Coroner in relation to the three-year-old’s death.

A spokesman for the Department for Child Protection (DCP) confirmed the death had been referred to the Coroner and “an investigation is underway”.

A government spokesman said Ms Hildyard was informed “of this tragic incident in line with notification procedures”.

Despite pledges from the head of the state’s Department for Child Protection (DCP) to be more transparent about the deaths of at-risk children, the case has only come to light following inquiries by The Advertiser.

Latest data shows one in every three South Australian children are reported to child protection authorities at some point in their childhood.

In 2022, the deaths of two other children prompted an independent inquiry into the involvement of government agencies with their families.

Charlie Nowland, 6, died in July 2022. Four government agencies – the human services, education and child protection departments and SA Housing Authority – had contact with her family.

Makai Wanganeen, 7, died in February 2022. His family was known to DCP.

Following a campaign by The Advertiser for more transparency Ms Bray last month promised to publish the number of children who die each year while on the radar of her department.

Department for Child Protection Jackie Bray pledged to be more transparent about the deaths of at-risk children. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Kelly Barnes

However, that information will not be made public until the release of the department’s annual report later this year.

To date, the number of at-risk children who have died has only been released following Freedom of Information requests and subsequent queries by The Advertiser.

Last year 17 young people living in state care, or known to the system, died including nine youngsters under the age of 10.

The Advertiser has previously revealed that another 58 children had died between 2019 and 2022.

Within days of those revelations, in January last year, former DCP boss Cathy Taylor resigned, after more than six years at the helm.

Ms Bray replaced her in June last year.

She and Ms Hildyard have promised that by the end of this year a new panel to fast-track reviews of child deaths will be operating.

It will 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.