NT Department of Children and Families failed to make missing persons report for missing 16-year-old

A judge said it was a ‘sad state of affairs’ that she had to order a warrant to spark some urgency in the search for a missing teenager.

The 16-year-old was last seen in November, meaning for 90 days there has been no contact with child protection authorities or her defence lawyer.

Territory child protection authorities failed to file a missing persons report after a 16-year-old girl vanished from a Darwin homelessness shelter three months ago.

Judge Julie Franz told the youth court it was a “sad state of affairs” she was forced to order a warrant to arrest a homeless girl just to pressure authorities to search for the missing teenager.

The 16-year-old was last seen in November, meaning for 90 days there has been no contact with child protection authorities or her defence lawyer.

At the time of her disappearance the teen — who cannot be named for legal reasons — was facing a 15-month-old robbery charge relating to an incident in October 2023.

Earlier this month Ms Franz said the teenager was staying at the homelessness shelter, Yilli Housing Short Stay Accommodation, but had “gone off the radar” late last year.

Defence lawyer Megan Donahoe said the young girl was believed to be long grassing in Darwin, however her exact location remains unknown.

Lawyer Megan Donahoe said the young girl was believed to be long grassing in Darwin, however her exact location remains unknown.

“Our paramount concern at the moment is her welfare,” Ms Donahoe said.

“It’s a matter of urgency.

“No one has spoken to her, or checked on her for three months.”

Ms Donahoe called for the Department of Children and Families to escalate the case by making a concern for welfare or missing persons report to police.

No Department representatives attended the January 10 hearing, despite it being specifically listed to assess if the teenager needed protection or there was a risk to her wellbeing.

During the 2023 senate inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children, Territory Families was grilled over what steps were taken to find Territory kids who were ‘absent’ or ‘missing’ from care.

“Children who are absent from their placement are a considerable concern,” the 257-page response to the inquiry said.

“As soon as possible after all reasonable attempts to locate the child have failed; the child must be reported as missing to the police.”

Yet, Ms Franz said the child protection report about the 16-year-old claimed “because they can’t find her, she’s not in their care”.

“But that’s really the whole point of this. No one seems to know where she is, including the CYJO (community youth justice officer),” she said.

“The CEO is required to investigate the circumstances of a young person and to take positive action.”

Despite Ms Donahoe’s calls to escalate the welfare or missing persons report, the prosecutor advocated instead for a warrant for her arrest.

Darwin judge Julie Franz told the youth court it was a “sad state of affairs” that she was forced to order a warrant to arrest a homeless girl. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Ms Donahoe warned this could see the vulnerable teenager placed in a “dire situation”, with limited police cells due to Corrections taking over watch-houses.

“I don’t know what specific provisions are in place for a vulnerable young woman … if she were arrested, where they take her and contain her,” she said.

“(She) is a young vulnerable person, who in my view does not do well in custody.”

Ms Franz said while this could result in the homeless child being locked in a cell — rather than being connected to critical services — she needed to ensure she was found quickly.

She said a warrant “may be the only way to get police to locate the young person … and that’s a very sad state of affairs”.

Her matter was adjourned to January 24, but delayed again to February 10 as she had still not been located.

Originally published as NT Department of Children and Families failed to make missing persons report for missing 16-year-old