Vulnerable children left alone for days in WA government housing
Vulnerable Aboriginal children were left alone for days in a South Hedland government home. Child protection workers reportedly knew about it.
Vulnerable Aboriginal children were left alone for up to a week at a time in a Department of Housing and Works home in South Hedland, Western Australia. The Frisby Court property sometimes housed up to 15 children, including the children of the home's renters.
Parents frequently left the house for days with no adults to watch the children. Reports show child protection workers knew about these conditions and the lack of supervision.
Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski has flown to Port Hedland to investigate. She said no child should have their safety and wellbeing put at risk.
Premier Roger Cook called the situation very distressing and completely unacceptable.
- Up to 15 children
- Maximum children at property
- Up to one week
- Length of unsupervised periods
Why it mattersChildren's safety depends on both families and government watchdogs doing their jobs. This failure in both raises urgent questions about child protection in remote WA.
AustraliaThe case exposes gaps in how vulnerable Aboriginal children are protected in Western Australia, with potential consequences for child protection policy and practice statewide.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
