Calls for intervention programs to be reinstated in remote East Arnhem community Yirrkala after two children committed suicide

TWO children have committed suicide in the past six months and a third death is being investigated by the ­Coroner in a remote East Arnhem community.

Two children have committed suicide in the past six months in a remote East Arnhem community

TWO children have committed suicide in the past six months and a third death is being investigated by the ­Coroner in a remote East Arnhem community, the NT News has learned.

The revelations come as the Department of Families and Children prepares to cut a vital early intervention childhood safety officer from the community of Yirrkala, 20km from Nhulunbuy.

The Department yesterday denied it was planning to cut the “position” despite the NT News being told by multiple sources that it will not exist in the community from the end of this financial year. The Member for Nhulunbuy Lynne Walker also told Parliament in the March sittings that she had it confirmed the position would finish and the community was “disappointed, angry and saddened” by the news.

The position was created following a major recommendation from the former NT Children’s Commissioner Howard Bath’s Board of ­Inquiry into child protection.

The children who committed suicide were aged under 17 and both in secondary school. One was described as a “top student”.

A source in Yirrkala told the NT News yesterday the community was “grieving” the deaths.

“Three deaths in about six or so months ... this is just shattering for the community,” the source said. “This is just not the norm out here.”

The NT News understands the unexplained death of the third child – an 11-year-old girl – occurred last year. The NT Government would not ­confirm the death until probed by the NT News this week.

Last weekend NT Education Union passed an urgent motion for action to be taken in the community at its Territory Conference.

The motion stated that several remote communities “are suffering from the reduction of support services that are aimed at early intervention support services for children and families”.

Ms Walker said the program that was being cut had been successful in Yirrkala.