Zhane Chilcott’s foster carer tells inquest why he had to give up the boy before he took his own life

Zhane Chilcott took his own life in state care – but while he was with his foster carer, he was flourishing. Now the carer has explained why he was forced to give him up.

The former foster carer of a teenager who later took his own life while in state care has told an inquest into the boy’s death his payments were “cut in half”.

Stephen Rimes began caring for Zhane Chilcott – who was subject to 18 different placements while in state care – at his Caltowie home in March 2014, where he said the boy “flourished”.

An inquest into Zhane’s death has heard the 13-year-old took his own life while being cared for at a Morphett Vale residential facility on July 12, 2016.

Mr Rimes said he was employed through Life Without Barriers and had three long-term foster children prior to Zhane.

He said he was previously employed as a “professional carer” for the other children, but the organisation changed its contracts to employ him as a “volunteer carer” for Zhane. That change meant his payments were reduced from $2400 per fortnight to $1300 per fortnight.

Mr Rimes told the inquest the organisation said a second child would be placed with him after about three months of caring for Zhane, which would increase his payments, but that never happened.

Former foster carer Stephen Rimes leaves the Coroner's Courtlia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier.

Zhane Chilcott was failed by the state’s care system, his inquest has heard.

After about 14 months, he sold his home to move in with one of his biological sons. That move meant he was no longer able to care for Zhane because his son’s house did not have enough bedrooms.

“That whole year I waited, I was borrowing money basically to pay the bills,” he said.

He said he tried to get part-time work, but his contract did not allow him to work while fostering a child with complex needs. He said Zhane sometimes needed to be picked up from school at short notice, making it impossible to work.

“I couldn’t accommodate his needs if I was working,” Mr Rimes said. “I tried and I couldn’t.”

He told the inquest he was later told his payments would double, but the offer was withdrawn. He said he was later told that offer never existed.

A photo of Zhane Chilcott in about 2015 taken from his memorial booklet.

Mr Rimes said Zhane improved markedly in his care and had gone from attending school a couple of hours per day about two days a week, to attending full-time after about six months. His vast improvement also led him to become a school leader.

“He flourished,” Mr Rimes said.

He said Zhane began calling him “Dad” after a few months.

“I never wanted to lose Zhane,” he said. “I never gave up on him, it was just that things boiled over.”

The inquest previously heard government systems designed to protect children had failed Zhane.

At the time of his death he was weeks away from giving evidence at trial against a former foster carer, he claimed had abused him.

In the months before his death, Zhane had reconnected with his biological mother and had tried to call her on the night he died.

The inquest is continuing.

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