Neglect Case Sparks Review

The Age

Wednesday June 25, 2008

By Penelope Debelle and Carol Nader

VICTORIAN and South Australian governments were at a loss yesterday to establish when and how they could have intervened in the case of a pregnant mother of seven who was yesterday in custody over allegations she neglected and endangered her children.

The woman, 28, who moved from Geelong to Adelaide three months ago, was refused bail in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court. She was charged with five counts of criminal neglect, two of acting to endanger life and three of acting in a way likely to cause harm.

The alleged offences took place between February 1 and Monday, when police raided two houses in Adelaide and found up to 21 children living in filth and squalor.

On Sunday, six of her seven children were admitted to hospital in relation to neglect and poor nutrition. The children, aged between four and seven, will be found foster homes in South Australia.

The woman, who moved between the houses, had been staying with a pregnant relative who had 12 children. A male relative with children also stayed with them, meaning up to 21 children were crammed into a three-bedroom house.

She called an ambulance on Sunday for her sick son. Paramedics alerted authorities after finding the boy seriously ill with malnutrition and hypothermia.

South Australian Families and Communities Minister Jay Weatherill said the woman's case file in Victoria had been closed a year ago and she had not come to the attention of South Australian authorities until Sunday.

Victorian Community Services Minister Lisa Neville ordered a review to ensure the woman's case was suitably handled.

Mr Weatherill said the current protocol did not require that Victoria notify South Australia about a closed file, but this would be looked at.

National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect chief executive Maree Faulkner said there was a national crisis in child abuse and neglect arising out of mental illness, substance abuse, intellectual disability and domestic violence.