Coronial inquest into co-sleeping baby deaths begins in Alice Springs

WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: The deaths of three babies – one aged just three days old – are under the microscope in Alice Springs as part of a coronial inquest into co-sleeping.

Alice Springs Local Court: Picture: Gera Kazakov

A coronial inquest into the tragic deaths of three babies has begun in Alice Springs, placing co-sleeping arrangements in Central Australia under the microscope.

Over two weeks in the Alice Springs Local Court, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage will examine the three co-sleeping deaths which tragically occurred in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek between 2022 and 2023.

Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage. Picture: Glenn Campbell

On Monday, the inquest began with Ms Armitage approving a request for non-publication orders to be placed which would prevent the children and their families involved in the inquest being identified.

The inquest is examining three specific baby deaths, but the court heard within the last eight years there have been 244 co-sleeping deaths in Australia – a number of which were “preventable” and involved Aboriginal children, counsel assisting Giles O’Brien Hartcher said.

The first of the deaths being examined is a child who was two months old when he died in October 2023, in Alice Springs.

The second child was 35-days old when she died 45 days later in December, also in Alice Springs.

The third child, aged just three days old, had died a year earlier in Tennant Creek, in October 2022.

Tennant Creek. Picture: Alex Treacy

Mr O’Brien Hartcher said the purpose of the inquest was “not to lay blame” on the mothers but instead “to try and understand the risks for children when they are co-sleeping”.

“The cause of these three babies’ deaths is not controversial in this inquest,” he said.

The inquest hoped to raise awareness around the dangers of co-sleeping, while also examining what educational messages should be given to parents, and if the government was doing enough to mitigate the risks of co-sleeping deaths, Mr O’Brien Hartcher said.

The mother of the child who died in October was present on Monday, sitting in the rear of court.

She was observed holding her head in her hands, leaning forward and occasionally wiping away tears.

The court heard co-sleeping arrangements were common in Aboriginal cultures in Australia.

“When its mother lies down to sleep, she lies down with the baby in close physical proximity, usually on its side for spiritual reasons in close physical contact,” Mr O’Brien Hartcher said.

“Physical contact during co-sleeping continues to be of the utmost cultural importance. Not to co-sleep would be seen ... as neglect.”

Lawyer Michael McCarthy, representing the Department of Children and Families, and lawyer Zac Cleal for the Department of Health, both offered their condolences to the affected families.

Mr McCarthy said the department had already implemented a number of reforms – such as increasing cultural awareness training for staff – prior to the inquest commencing.

At the beginning of the inquest, Ms Armitage detailed 10 other co-sleeping deaths which could have been considered as part of the inquest.

“It’s possible that their deaths could have been prevented. Each was dearly loved, their families were trying to keep them safe,” she said.

Tennant Creek Police Station. Picture: Alex Treacy

Police Sergeant Aaron Evans, videolinking in from Tennant Creek, was the first to provide evidence on Monday.

Sgt Evans investigated the tragic death of the child in Tennant Creek.

The father-of-two detailed his investigation and spoke about how he had to break the news to the family.

He said he did not find “anything of concern” – such as cuts or bruises – when he examined the baby post death as part of his investigation.

No charges were laid over any of the deaths and the none of the mothers are accused of any wrongdoing.

A number of witnesses – from midwives to medical experts and government department staff – will take the stand in the coming fortnight as part of the inquest.

The inquest continues on Tuesday.

Originally published as Coronial inquest into co-sleeping baby deaths begins in Alice Springs