‘Find homes for teens like PJQ’: coroner

Coroner calls for child welfare services to do more so troubled teenagers like PJQ aren’t left homeless.

PJQ’s final hours, as laid out in the inquest, paint a devastating picture.

Victoria’s child welfare service has been directed to conduct a “risk assessment” of troubled teenagers transitioning out of state care to help ensure they have somewhere to live and are not left homeless.

Delivering his findings from the inquest into the tragic death of an 18-year-old girl who can only be referred to as PJQ, Coroner David Ryan recommended the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing adopts a policy that promotes “flexibility and recognises the importance of safe and stable accommodation during this critical transition period”.

“PJQ’s story is incredibly sad and distressing,” Coroner Ryan stated in his finding.

“She was a complex and engaging young woman who struggled to cope with the trauma she had experienced, and she presented challenges to her case workers who were invested in supporting her.”

Coroner Ryan noted in his finding that “PJQ was a resourceful ... young woman who was loved by her family” and “mourned by her maternal grandmother, Ms V, who

described her in a coronial impact statement as a ‘kind, beautiful, big hearted girl’.”

PJQ — whose identity has been suppressed to protect a family member who is also in state care — died of an overdose in a Dandenong drug house on February 25, 2022 just two months after she turned 18.

The troubled teenager had been staying in the house with two older men and in the 24 hours before dying she was using meth, GHB and benzodiazepines. Neither man checked on her for hours and she was found dead in bed. Ms V’s lawyer told the inquest that because of a lack housing PJQ found herself “in a house with 40-year-old men with drug paraphernalia everywhere, being the victim of what seems like a terrible sexual exploitation”.

In his 20-page finding, coroner Ryan concluded that “the Dandenong house was a very unsafe environment for PJQ”. “The prospect of a child or young woman spending time in such an environment while in a vulnerable state is disturbing,” he stated.

The coronial inquest focused on gaps in the safety net, particularly around finding long and short term accommodation, for troubled teenagers like PJQ as they leave state care at 18.

“PJQ’s case underscores the importance of secure and safe accommodation for young

people as they transition from state care to independent living,” coroner Ryan found.

“Australian research has consistently found that care leavers with stable housing are more likely to experience successful transitions to independence, including improved employment, better education and training outcomes, more secure relationships and increased social

connectedness.”

The DFFH said it was considering the coroner’s recommendation and would respond within the required timeframe. “The death of any young person is tragic,” a spokesperson said.

The inquest heard that between January 2020 and December 2021, PJQ presented to hospital about 20 times to receive treatment for substance abuse.

And between February 2019 and December 2021, the inquest heard, PJQ was reported as a missing person by her carers 231 times. In this period, 142 warrants were granted by the Children’s Court of Victoria on the application of child welfare services to find PJQ and return her to state care.

Crystal meth

The inquest heard PJQ died just ten days after being discharged from a drug rehabilitation program. “It was a reasonable plan for PJQ to complete residential drug withdrawal and

rehabilitation programs before transitioning to private rental accommodation,” coroner Ryan found.

“However, given her history of non-engagement in the past, the plan should have included a

contingency for the possibility that PJQ may not be able to complete those programs.”

Coroner Ryan also noted; “In the circumstances, with the benefit of hindsight, there should have been greater consideration and effort to securing flexible short-term bridging accommodation for PJQ, such as an Airbnb or motel.”