A Child’s Death Must Not Become Just Another Closed File
The children in these published records died in out-of-home care or shortly after leaving it while still known to the system. The accounts preserve their lives, the warnings raised and the questions their families continue to ask.
- Published Entries In This Selection
- 7
Injuries And Warnings Before A Child Died
6 published accounts record injuries or safety concerns around a child’s death.
Luke Borusiewicz Michael Borusiewicz's accounts describe a close, affectionate father–son relationship and the pain of seeing Luke taken away repeatedly. Luke died on 18 January 2009, aged two years and four months. His father says his death was preventable and that the people responsible for protecting him failed to listen and act. 1
Nathan Stewart Michelle Stewart talks about the death of her son Nathan Stewart under suspicious circumstances in foster carer supervised by the department of human services in Victoria (DHS Vic) I have been on Facebook a few years now in the hope that I may find some Justice, some peace and some closure relating to the death of my beautiful gentle son Nathan. 2
Alecomm’s Conclusion: The sequence before the death matters: what was known, who was told and what action followed. A family’s warning should be examined as part of the child’s history of care.
A Delay In Help Can Have Irreversible Consequences
4 published accounts describe medical help, mental-health needs or emergency responses around a child’s death.
Luke Borusiewicz Michael Borusiewicz's accounts describe a close, affectionate father–son relationship and the pain of seeing Luke taken away repeatedly. Luke died on 18 January 2009, aged two years and four months. His father says his death was preventable and that the people responsible for protecting him failed to listen and act. 1
Nathan Stewart Michelle Stewart talks about the death of her son Nathan Stewart under suspicious circumstances in foster carer supervised by the department of human services in Victoria (DHS Vic) I have been on Facebook a few years now in the hope that I may find some Justice, some peace and some closure relating to the death of my beautiful gentle son Nathan. 2
Alecomm’s Conclusion: The account should identify the child’s needs, the response and its timing. Children’s distress and injuries require prompt attention, continuity and a clear chain of responsibility.
Families Continue To Seek Answers
7 published accounts preserve families’ loss, questions and efforts to obtain answers.
Luke Borusiewicz Michael Borusiewicz's accounts describe a close, affectionate father–son relationship and the pain of seeing Luke taken away repeatedly. Luke died on 18 January 2009, aged two years and four months. His father says his death was preventable and that the people responsible for protecting him failed to listen and act. 1
Nathan Stewart Michelle Stewart talks about the death of her son Nathan Stewart under suspicious circumstances in foster carer supervised by the department of human services in Victoria (DHS Vic) I have been on Facebook a few years now in the hope that I may find some Justice, some peace and some closure relating to the death of my beautiful gentle son Nathan. 2
Alecomm’s Conclusion: An investigation should make the child’s experience and the family’s questions visible. An administrative outcome cannot erase the child’s life or end the need to explain failures of care.