Families say support is grossly inadequate in dealing with trauma

Families whose loved ones died in horror crashes say they were ‘forgotten’ when they needed help due to a major oversight in Queensland’s system for support services.

• Editor: Support is not just about funding

Families whose loved ones died in horror crashes say they are slipping through the cracks and have called on the Queensland government to fall in line with other states that have introduced a road trauma support service.

Amanda Chippendale, Melissa Griffin and Dolly Evans say they were offered little support after they lost their family members in a road crash at the hands of another driver.

But South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales have support services in place for victims of road trauma.

The Sunday Mail is aware of instances where the support service in South Australia, which extends to families of crash victims of all types, has offered help to those in Queensland because they knew there was nothing available to them in the sunshine state.

Currently in Queensland, if the driver is charged with anything less than manslaughter or murder, or is not charged at all, there is no specialised support.

On average, there are 30 charges of dangerous driving causing death a year in the state, with victims’ families lumped in with those of all other types of violent crime. But they say they need tailored support on par with grieving families of manslaughter or murder victims.

While support is available to all victims of violent crime through Victim Assist, the families said it often involves overcomplicated forms, lengthy wait times for help or was not communicated clearly to them.

Amanda Chippendale at her Brisbane home, Friday, June 20, 2025 – Picture: Richard Walker

Jocelyn Grace Mollee, 22, died on after a horrific six-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of the Bruce Highway at Palmview, allegedly caused by a man whose Porsche Macan lost control. Picture Supplied by Family

In New South Wales, a counsellor from the road trauma support group is in touch with the family within 48 hours of an incident occurring.

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services, Laura Gerber said the Queensland Government was working towards “delivering a dedicated Victims Advocate Service, to ensure victims are supported throughout the entire justice process and have better access to support services.”

The recent state budget revealed the Crisafulli Government was investing $458.5 million over five years in victim support, including $50 million over five years and $10 million a year ongoing to deliver a new professional Victims Advocate Service

Amanda Chippendale’s daughter Jocelyn Grace Mollee died in April after spending Easter with her boyfriend’s family in Hervey Bay following a horrific six-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of the Bruce Highway at Palmview.

Ms Chippendale said she was only offered counselling services and some help with the funeral from Victims Assist weeks after the incident because she was informed about the service from Victims 1st ambassador Lyndy Atkinson – after a Courier Mail story.

“In those first few days, we got no support at all,” she said.

“When we left the hospital, there was nothing. So it was just family support, friends support for the first, probably two or three days with no idea of what was going on. In that first initial process, there was no government support at all.

Ms Chippendale said she felt like she had to fight for every bit of help she received from the government.

“Not only are you trying to deal with your grief and all of those things, but you’re trying to find a way of just getting through,” she said.

“I was never expecting to be laying to rest my 22 year old daughter.”

“Every single time it’s felt like I’ve had to fight for government support particularly in terms of things that would support us moving forward.

“Things like trying to access counselling.”

Police allege Bradley Donald Towle – who was wanted on a warrant – lost control of his Porsche Macan, causing the crash before allegedly shooting a 62-year-old man in the arm and stealing his car as well as carjacking a learner driver in a terrifying series of events.

Ms Chippendale said her daughter’s partner, who was in the car with her at the time, has received no support from the government.

“Jocey’s boyfriend was in the car accident, and he had to break the windscreen and actually take Jocelyn out of the car,” she said.

“And he’s still not received any counselling or anything like that. So he’s still at the point that he’s not really receiving any support. He fell between the cracks.”

Melissa Griffin’s uncle Allan Smillie, 76, was killed when a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old allegedly went through a stop sign, left the road and crashed into his mobility scooter at Kingston in February. The teen allegedly at the wheel of the car that hit Mr Smillie, has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and leave the scene without obtaining help.

Family of Allan Smillie who died on an emobility scooter earlier this year. Melissa is the niece of Mr Smillie who has had no support from the government. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Supplied of Allan Smillie whose family was let down by the Government

Ms Griffin after the crash was not offered any support from the government – she said the police told them they could see a psychologist but they needed to fill out a number of forms.

“They just see us as another statistic, that’s it,” she said.

“They should be helping, consoling us, seeing if we need help. Don’t send us a link. A link is not going to help someone. No one is going to click on a link.

Ms Griffin said it had been ridiculously hard since she lost her uncle.

“It’s hard to talk about it. He was such a kind man. It’s going to take a lot to get over it,” she said.

“Even if he does go to jail, it’s not going to bring him back. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about him. It doesn’t get any easier. It’s just the way that they left him. I thought it would get easier but it doesn’t.”

Dolly Evans lost her son Cohn Evans, who was 22 and in the back seat of a car travelling along Dungaree Drive in New Beith on November 30, 2022 when the driver lost control.

Joshua Jordan John Boyton was sentenced to four and half years behind bars for the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing the death of Evans.

He was given a parole eligibility date of May 19, 2026.

Ms Evans said she was disappointed to hear families were still not receiving help even under the new government.

“There’s a break in the system that leaves people like us wondering and scared, and we’re already scared, so we don’t need to be any more scared but that’s what happens,” she said.

Ms Evans said she only found out about victims assist recently from Ms Atkinson and had put in an application but a month later was still waiting on a response.

“Financially, a death cripples a family,” she said.

Dolly Evans. Her son Cohn Evans died a few years ago. She received no support and was disappointed. She wants to speak up so it doesn't happen to other families. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“It costs us at least $1,000 a month for me to have any medical assistance, and that’s psychiatrists, psychologists and medical treatment, not to mention the lost wages that you can cover.

“The government need to do something to help people, and they need to make it so it’s accessible and that people know about it in the very early stages.”

Ms Evans said emergency services, who are first on scene, should have a bag in their car to help support people.

“In that bag, have things of comfort, a bottle of water, a little packet of tissues, a little thermal blanket and brochures, and they can be brochures of just something basic, what’s next,” she said.

Queensland Homicide Victims Group chief executive Brett Thompson said there was a gap in victim support in relation to motor vehicle deaths where a criminal charge was laid unless it’s manslaughter or murder.

“There is no support agency that provides that support,” he said.

“These families have got a sudden, traumatic loss.

Supplied image of Cohn Evans

Supplied image of Cohn Evans

“The impact is lifelong, and the interactions with the different insurers, the criminal justice system, the corrective service system, is very similar to what they’ll see as if the charges were higher.”

”The only difference is that the charge is lower but that doesn’t mean or lessen the fact that their life has been lost.

“It’s just a technical difference in terms of whether someone is eligible for the support through our organisation or not. But at the moment, there is no specialist service in Queensland that can provide that support.:

Mr Thompson said there was a service in New South Wales that supported families.

“We already provide support for families who experience loss where the charge is murder or manslaughter, but we don’t have the capacity to provide support if the charges are less than that,” he said.

“Which, saddens us.”

NSW Homicide Victims Support Group chief executive and Road Trauma Support Group NSW acting executive Martha Jabour OAM said it was created after a gap was noticed by a victim family member who felt they weren’t supported.

“We have a working partnership with New South Wales Police, where, when a road crash occurs and someone dies in the course of the criminal act, the police will send a notification form to the road trauma support group,” she said.

“And then within 48 hours, a counsellor from the road trauma support group will be in contact with that family.

“And from that we offer family members support and help with all of the hard bits I say, which is the forms and understanding what people’s entitlements are.”

Ms Jabour said since its inception it had helped many families who were left behind.

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services, Laura Gerber said the government would always prioritise the rights of victims and ensure they are given the support and respect they deserve.

“As part of our Victims Advocate Service and the work we are doing with stakeholders, we are looking at all reforms necessary to ensure victims are supported,” she said.

Originally published as Families say support is grossly inadequate in dealing with trauma