Early review finds Kumanjayi Little Baby was let down by child services
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the image of a person who is deceased.
A five-year-old girl was let down by the Northern Territory’s child protection system before her tragic death, according to a preliminary report released on Tuesday.
Dozens of vigils were held around Australia to honour the life and memory of Kumanjayi Little Baby. 9News
The body of Kumanjayi Little Baby was discovered near Old Timers Camp, south of Alice Springs, after a five-day search in April.
She was allegedly murdered by Jefferson Lewis, who is not believed to have been known to the child or her family.
The Northern Territory government announced an independent review into the territory’s child protection system in the wake of her death.
The review is not focused on Lewis but rather the child protection department’s handling of the circumstances of the five-year-old before her death.
The investigation is being led by former NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb and public servant Greg Shanahan.
The preliminary report said Kumanjayi Little Baby and her family had been subject to several child protection notifications over her life, including while her mother was pregnant with her.
“All of those notifications were based on alleged domestic violence perpetrated primarily by her father on her mother,” the report alleged.
The preliminary review noted, based on the available evidence, a domestic and family violence-informed risk assessment was not undertaken as part of the child protection assessment process.
“This limited (the Department of Children and Families) ability to identify and assess the cumulative impact of multiple reports, including the frequency, severity and escalation of (domestic and family violence) incidents over time,” the report said.
Kumanjayi Little Baby Supplied
“As a result, the pattern of harm and the ongoing impact of the violence on the children and family environment was not fully recognised.
“(Kumanjayi Little Baby’s) mother was effectively left with the responsibility of protecting her children while experiencing (domestic and family violence) herself, without (the Department of Children and Families) adequately identifying the risks posed by the perpetrator’s behaviour and the impact of the violence on the children.
“There is an urgent need for (the Department of Children and Families) to integrate child protection and (domestic and family violence) risk frameworks to ensure children and families are not exposed to unnecessary risk.
“Effective integration is critical to ensuring assessments identify patterns of abuse, the impact of coercive control, and the cumulative harm experienced by children exposed to DFV.”
The independent report is expected to be finalised and presented to the Northern Territory government in August.
For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).
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