Latest news with #DepartmentofCommunities
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘She needed help': Family says Perth baby's death was preventable
Relatives of a baby who died after allegedly being stabbed to death by his mother say more could have been done to help the family. Jacinta Beth Sells, 31, is charged with murdering her seven-month-old son early on Monday morning in what police allege is a domestic violence homicide. Paramedics were unable to save the infant, who was allegedly found with stab wounds. Police confirmed other family members were present at the time, including a 13-year-old girl who called the police. A spokeswoman for Ms Sells' family told The West that Ms Sells had been regularly visited by the Department of Communities, including just a few days before the alleged murder. 'We met with the Department of Communities yesterday and we told them we were disappointed that they failed,' the family spokeswoman said. 'We affirmed our disappointment in the prior management and support. They visited her on the Thursday or Friday. We asked for the case notes from the visit, and they couldn't produce any. 'She (Jacinta) was doing the best she could in circumstances that most people couldn't imagine – she needed help and was never given the support that she deserved.' The spokeswoman said Ms Sells had recently been struggling with parenting difficulties. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the family had been 'deeply affected' by the baby's death. 'This is a trauma that no one will ever recover from, the family are deeply affected,' he said. 'There would be very few cases where you would have a crime scene of such a horrific nature for our officers and for first responders involved.' WA Premier Roger Cook described the incident as 'incredibly sad and horrible stuff'. 'Our hearts go out to everyone involved in that,' he said.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Chilling letter sent to 1200 Sydney families
More than one thousand families in Sydney have been sent a chilling letter about a man who worked with children being charged with criminal offences. The man, who worked with children in Sydney's northern suburbs and the CBD, was charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in October last year in relation to alleged criminal activity that allegedly involved a 'very small number of children'. The AFP said the man remains in custody and poses no threat to children. His identity, place of work and alleged victims associated have been suppressed under strict non-publication orders. Under strict conditions of the Royal Commission and in accordance with the Joint Child Protection Response Program, NSW Police and the AFP, in partnership with NSW Health, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Department of Education and Training, the Office of the Children's Guardian, have begun to notify families. Letters have been distributed to 1200 families and carers who may have come into contact with the man, even if they were not one of the alleged victims. 'Based on information currently available, investigators believe the alleged behaviour of the man involves a very small number of children, however, the parents and carers of any child who may have had contact with the man has received a letter,' an AFP statement read. The letter contains important information about the investigation and provides information regarding health and support services available to those who need it. 'The letter provides instructions on how to contact a local hotline if parents or carers have concerns about their child,' the statement read. Those who receive the letters are asked to read the information carefully and thoroughly. If further assistance is required, the families and carers can contact the local hotlines as per the instructions.
The Age
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Age
Could a scan seven years ago have found the sleeping killer in a WA girl's head?
After her birth in the Kimberley in July 2014, Jane* was given a year to live owing to a rare, widespread congenital syndrome that impacted her brain development and ability to see, hear, walk and talk. But 10 years on, with the help of her foster mum, Sharyn Morris, she defied the odds and flourished into a bright little girl who loved the solar system and Elmo. Jane captured the hearts of anyone who met her – including Health Minister Meredith Hammat. This incredible progress was cut short in August last year, when Jane died unexpectedly from a brain bleed. 'She just was developing so well, and there was no reason to believe that anything was going to happen to her,' Morris says. The bleed was thought to have been caused by a blood vessel abnormality hidden in her brain. It was a condition that doctors consistently assured Morris that Jane did not have, and recommended against scans that would have identified it. This was despite years of medical documents that said otherwise, which has led Morris to demand a coronial inquest into her foster daughter's death. Loading In echoes of previous cases of parents' concerns being ignored at WA hospital – such as those of Aishwarya Aswath and Sandipan Dhar – Morris says Jane's death could have been prevented if her requests for more rigorous scans years ago had been acted on. 'She would say to me, '[Jane], grow up to be a big girl' and I'd say, 'Yes, honey, mum promises you, you'll grow up to be a big girl',' Morris says. 'She just never got that opportunity. They took everything away from her and took her away from us. They destroyed our lives as well. It's not right.' Shock death There were only four children in the world with Jane's condition in 2019. Under that she had a multitude of other conditions, including dark skin lesions covering her head and body, tumours on her brain and in her eyes, rickets, autism, and epilepsy. Morris, 61, fostered Jane 10 days after her birth at the request of her biological mother, and was eventually given a special guardianship order, granting her total parental responsibility. Despite obtaining permission from Morris to write this story, this masthead cannot reveal the girl's real name – Jane is a pseudonym – nor show pictures of her because the Department of Communities retains control over publication of information about her. The department refused to allow the publication of her name or images of her on the request of her biological family for cultural reasons. Jane's conditions meant she was a regular visitor to Perth Children's Hospital, but despite this, in recent years her speech and walking were advancing in leaps and bounds thanks to a new medication regimen. Morris says her foster daughter was doing so well, Jane would have probably outlived her, which is why her rapid deterioration last year came as such a shock. Morris had taken Jane to PCH in February and April 2024, complaining of headaches and 'whipper snipper' noises in her head. She was given an MRI during that visit, but doctors found no issues or bleeding. By August, Jane had deteriorated to the point she was no longer walking. 'It would appear that four years after Aishwarya's death that nothing has changed.' Family advocate Suresh Rajan On August 22, Jane suddenly collapsed on the kitchen floor of her Marangaroo home and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. That afternoon was the last time Morris saw her daughter conscious. Doctors reported her seizing, but Morris repeatedly told them they were not like her regular seizures. She says that evening she pleaded with doctors for a CT scan, but it did not happen until early morning the next day. The scan found the bleed. In a clinical incident report known as a SAC1 report, seen by this masthead, doctors noted Jane had to be stabilised before they could do the scan. Jane was eventually found to have had a massive brain bleed, and surgery to drain it was unsuccessful. Morris and her daughters, who had travelled from across the state to see Jane, switched off her life support at 5.55pm on August 24 in time for sunset, which Morris says was her favourite time of day. Ten months on, Morris is yet to receive Jane's official cause of death, but the SAC1 report and her discharge summary both note a blood vessel deformity known as an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) found in her brain after her death may have been the source of the bleed. Conflicting reports AVMs are a tangling of arteries and veins that can disrupt the flow of blood and cause internal bleeding. According to the Sydney Children's Hospital, AVMs usually form during development or shortly after birth. They are often only found if they start bleeding, but can be detected using medical imaging techniques like MRIs, CT scans and angiograms. Loading Angiograms are considered the gold standard of diagnosing AVMs, which are treatable through surgery, radiosurgery or endovascular treatment. Jane's medical documents from 2017 onwards show conflicting reports about the presence of an AVM, and that Morris' repeated requests for an angiogram did not eventuate. In a 2017 letter between neurologists and PCH, obtained by Morris under Freedom of Information laws, it was revealed an MRI taken found a possible AVM, but it was not conclusive and would require an angiogram. The doctor said there was a risk associated with the angiogram, and they had discussed whether they outweighed the risk of the AVM haemorrhaging. That same letter noted Morris was 'very keen' to do the angiogram and the doctor agreed to do it if the Neurological Intervention and Imaging Service of WA supported the move. In a separate letter from December 2018, NIISWA found there was 'no evidence' of an AVM after an enhanced MRI scan. Jane never received an angiogram, and in all her annual care plans until her death, it was noted a brain lesion spotted in the past MRI was 'not an AVM'. 'No further investigation, surgery or intervention is required from NIISWA point of view,' it said. However, discharge summaries from several hospital visits from March 2020 until her final visit, seen by this masthead, clearly stated she did have an AVM. Jane's final discharge notice notes her brain bleed was thought to be caused by a small AVM, which was 'noted on previous MRI image series'. This conflicts with the SAC1 report, where a panel found previous scans 'did not demonstrate an AVM or other vascular lesion for which prior neurological intervention would have indicated.' Morris says she only noticed mentions of the AVM on Jane's discharge summaries after her death. She says had she been alerted sooner, she would have pushed harder for more scans and treatment. 'I'm of the understanding that she doesn't have one. I'm her primary carer. I have a special guardianship order for this child, she's my child. I'm raising her, and I'm told by doctors she doesn't have one,' she says. Morris claims Jane's Indigenous background and disabilities may have been a factor in her struggle to get her properly diagnosed. 'In seven years why did they not do it? Because she's Indigenous, because she was special needs? What are their answers?' she said. 'No faith' in Aishwarya's CARE call During Jane's final days in hospital, Morris did not activate the Aishwarya CARE call system – the system implemented in WA hospitals after Aishwarya Aswath's death in 2021 to help parents escalate their concerns. Both Morris and the clinical incident report concede Morris had made her concerns heard enough to have senior medical staff in the room, but Morris says she had no faith in the system. 'Why would I? I already have [senior doctors] treating my child, and they won't listen to me. Who is going to take notice of me at 10 o'clock at night?' she says. Morris' concerns around the Aishwarya CARE call system concerned family advocate Suresh Rajan, who also helped Aishwarya's parents in the aftermath of their daughter's death. 'When the Aishwarya CARE call was implemented, the then-health minister, now premier, wrote to us to advise that the system was to 'change the culture of the WA Health Service so that patients and caregivers were listened to',' he says. 'It would appear that four years after Aishwarya's death that nothing has changed.' What needs to change Morris is furious at the handling of Jane's care and subsequent investigations, including the SAC1 report, which suggested her death was not preventable. She says she did not have the opportunity to address the panel conducting the report, nor respond to its findings. She wants Hammat's support to launch a coronial inquest into her daughter's care and death and is demanding a raft of changes in hospital accountability. These include more accountability of individual doctor decision-making, laws to force doctors to act on observations and concerns of parents, establishing an independent medical investigation body and more transparency around investigations. 'Parents are right' Health Minister Meredith Hammat, who attended Jane's funeral, confirmed she would reach out to Morris to discuss her concerns, but would not say whether she supported her request for a coronial inquest. '[Jane] was an incredible little girl and loved by many people in our community,' she said. 'I've spoken with Sharyn many times over the years, most recently just a few weeks ago. Sharyn is a strong woman and a fearless advocate, and I'm sorry for her loss. 'I won't discuss the details of our meetings, but it is my firm view that parents and guardians should be listened to. They know their child best. 'Our conversations are ongoing, and I will continue to support Sharyn as both her local member and Minister for Health to ensure she gets the answers she needs.' A Child and Adolescent Health Service spokesman said they could not discuss confidential patient details.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-06-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Could a scan seven years ago have found the sleeping killer in a WA girl's head?
After her birth in the Kimberley in July 2014, Jane* was given a year to live owing to a rare, widespread congenital syndrome that impacted her brain development and ability to see, hear, walk and talk. But 10 years on, with the help of her foster mum, Sharyn Morris, she defied the odds and flourished into a bright little girl who loved the solar system and Elmo. Jane captured the hearts of anyone who met her – including Health Minister Meredith Hammat. This incredible progress was cut short in August last year, when Jane died unexpectedly from a brain bleed. 'She just was developing so well, and there was no reason to believe that anything was going to happen to her,' Morris says. The bleed was thought to have been caused by a blood vessel abnormality hidden in her brain. It was a condition that doctors consistently assured Morris that Jane did not have, and recommended against scans that would have identified it. This was despite years of medical documents that said otherwise, which has led Morris to demand a coronial inquest into her foster daughter's death. Loading In echoes of previous cases of parents' concerns being ignored at WA hospital – such as those of Aishwarya Aswath and Sandipan Dhar – Morris says Jane's death could have been prevented if her requests for more rigorous scans years ago had been acted on. 'She would say to me, '[Jane], grow up to be a big girl' and I'd say, 'Yes, honey, mum promises you, you'll grow up to be a big girl',' Morris says. 'She just never got that opportunity. They took everything away from her and took her away from us. They destroyed our lives as well. It's not right.' Shock death There were only four children in the world with Jane's condition in 2019. Under that she had a multitude of other conditions, including dark skin lesions covering her head and body, tumours on her brain and in her eyes, rickets, autism, and epilepsy. Morris, 61, fostered Jane 10 days after her birth at the request of her biological mother, and was eventually given a special guardianship order, granting her total parental responsibility. Despite obtaining permission from Morris to write this story, this masthead cannot reveal the girl's real name – Jane is a pseudonym – nor show pictures of her because the Department of Communities retains control over publication of information about her. The department refused to allow the publication of her name or images of her on the request of her biological family for cultural reasons. Jane's conditions meant she was a regular visitor to Perth Children's Hospital, but despite this, in recent years her speech and walking were advancing in leaps and bounds thanks to a new medication regimen. Morris says her foster daughter was doing so well, Jane would have probably outlived her, which is why her rapid deterioration last year came as such a shock. Morris had taken Jane to PCH in February and April 2024, complaining of headaches and 'whipper snipper' noises in her head. She was given an MRI during that visit, but doctors found no issues or bleeding. By August, Jane had deteriorated to the point she was no longer walking. 'It would appear that four years after Aishwarya's death that nothing has changed.' Family advocate Suresh Rajan On August 22, Jane suddenly collapsed on the kitchen floor of her Marangaroo home and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. That afternoon was the last time Morris saw her daughter conscious. Doctors reported her seizing, but Morris repeatedly told them they were not like her regular seizures. She says that evening she pleaded with doctors for a CT scan, but it did not happen until early morning the next day. The scan found the bleed. In a clinical incident report known as a SAC1 report, seen by this masthead, doctors noted Jane had to be stabilised before they could do the scan. Jane was eventually found to have had a massive brain bleed, and surgery to drain it was unsuccessful. Morris and her daughters, who had travelled from across the state to see Jane, switched off her life support at 5.55pm on August 24 in time for sunset, which Morris says was her favourite time of day. Ten months on, Morris is yet to receive Jane's official cause of death, but the SAC1 report and her discharge summary both note a blood vessel deformity known as an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) found in her brain after her death may have been the source of the bleed. Conflicting reports AVMs are a tangling of arteries and veins that can disrupt the flow of blood and cause internal bleeding. According to the Sydney Children's Hospital, AVMs usually form during development or shortly after birth. They are often only found if they start bleeding, but can be detected using medical imaging techniques like MRIs, CT scans and angiograms. Loading Angiograms are considered the gold standard of diagnosing AVMs, which are treatable through surgery, radiosurgery or endovascular treatment. Jane's medical documents from 2017 onwards show conflicting reports about the presence of an AVM, and that Morris' repeated requests for an angiogram did not eventuate. In a 2017 letter between neurologists and PCH, obtained by Morris under Freedom of Information laws, it was revealed an MRI taken found a possible AVM, but it was not conclusive and would require an angiogram. The doctor said there was a risk associated with the angiogram, and they had discussed whether they outweighed the risk of the AVM haemorrhaging. That same letter noted Morris was 'very keen' to do the angiogram and the doctor agreed to do it if the Neurological Intervention and Imaging Service of WA supported the move. In a separate letter from December 2018, NIISWA found there was 'no evidence' of an AVM after an enhanced MRI scan. Jane never received an angiogram, and in all her annual care plans until her death, it was noted a brain lesion spotted in the past MRI was 'not an AVM'. 'No further investigation, surgery or intervention is required from NIISWA point of view,' it said. However, discharge summaries from several hospital visits from March 2020 until her final visit, seen by this masthead, clearly stated she did have an AVM. Jane's final discharge notice notes her brain bleed was thought to be caused by a small AVM, which was 'noted on previous MRI image series'. This conflicts with the SAC1 report, where a panel found previous scans 'did not demonstrate an AVM or other vascular lesion for which prior neurological intervention would have indicated.' Morris says she only noticed mentions of the AVM on Jane's discharge summaries after her death. She says had she been alerted sooner, she would have pushed harder for more scans and treatment. 'I'm of the understanding that she doesn't have one. I'm her primary carer. I have a special guardianship order for this child, she's my child. I'm raising her, and I'm told by doctors she doesn't have one,' she says. Morris claims Jane's Indigenous background and disabilities may have been a factor in her struggle to get her properly diagnosed. 'In seven years why did they not do it? Because she's Indigenous, because she was special needs? What are their answers?' she said. 'No faith' in Aishwarya's CARE call During Jane's final days in hospital, Morris did not activate the Aishwarya CARE call system – the system implemented in WA hospitals after Aishwarya Aswath's death in 2021 to help parents escalate their concerns. Both Morris and the clinical incident report concede Morris had made her concerns heard enough to have senior medical staff in the room, but Morris says she had no faith in the system. 'Why would I? I already have [senior doctors] treating my child, and they won't listen to me. Who is going to take notice of me at 10 o'clock at night?' she says. Morris' concerns around the Aishwarya CARE call system concerned family advocate Suresh Rajan, who also helped Aishwarya's parents in the aftermath of their daughter's death. 'When the Aishwarya CARE call was implemented, the then-health minister, now premier, wrote to us to advise that the system was to 'change the culture of the WA Health Service so that patients and caregivers were listened to',' he says. 'It would appear that four years after Aishwarya's death that nothing has changed.' What needs to change Morris is furious at the handling of Jane's care and subsequent investigations, including the SAC1 report, which suggested her death was not preventable. She says she did not have the opportunity to address the panel conducting the report, nor respond to its findings. She wants Hammat's support to launch a coronial inquest into her daughter's care and death and is demanding a raft of changes in hospital accountability. These include more accountability of individual doctor decision-making, laws to force doctors to act on observations and concerns of parents, establishing an independent medical investigation body and more transparency around investigations. 'Parents are right' Health Minister Meredith Hammat, who attended Jane's funeral, confirmed she would reach out to Morris to discuss her concerns, but would not say whether she supported her request for a coronial inquest. '[Jane] was an incredible little girl and loved by many people in our community,' she said. 'I've spoken with Sharyn many times over the years, most recently just a few weeks ago. Sharyn is a strong woman and a fearless advocate, and I'm sorry for her loss. 'I won't discuss the details of our meetings, but it is my firm view that parents and guardians should be listened to. They know their child best. 'Our conversations are ongoing, and I will continue to support Sharyn as both her local member and Minister for Health to ensure she gets the answers she needs.' A Child and Adolescent Health Service spokesman said they could not discuss confidential patient details.
Global News
02-06-2025
- General
- Global News
Historic Grand Banks schooner's future being assessed at Lunenburg, N.S., shipyard
An assessment has been ordered to determine the options for a historic schooner that's been berthed at the site of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg, N.S. The 85-year-old Theresa E. Connor is being described by the province's Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage as 'showing signs of wear,' and having 'some structural concerns.' Department spokesman Rob Maguire said Monday the vessel was moved from its spot by the waterfront museum and taken to the Lunenburg Shipyard and hoisted onto a dry dock in February. The vessel — which has been part of the museum since 1967 — has undergone regular repairs every three to four years, but the spokesman says on this occasion it will 'be undergoing a full assessment' to help determine its options. 'This will help us better understand the vessel's condition and what work may be required,' he wrote in an email. Story continues below advertisement 'We know how important the Theresa E. Connor is to the Lunenburg community and to the many Nova Scotians and visitors who've experienced the vessel as part of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. That's why we're working closely with our colleagues at the museum and with the Department of Public Works to ensure the schooner is preserved in a way that honours its cultural and historical significance,' he said. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to museum records, Theresa E. Connor is one of Canada's oldest schooners, and the last to dory fish the Grand Banks out of the port of Lunenburg. Built in 1938 at Smith and Rhuland Shipyard, it is one of only two remaining fishing schooners constructed by the shipbuilding firm, which constructed Bluenose and the majority of Lunenburg's early 20th century fishing fleet. The only other remaining vessel from this fleet is Sherman Zwicker, which was built in 1942 and is now a floating restaurant situated on the Hudson River in New York City. Bradison Boutilier, the owner of Lunenburg Shipyard, said in an interview Monday that the vessel was among a generation of 'knockabout' schooners that had an engine installed and the height of its masts reduced — as it continued to be used as the age of sail faded. 'Like all schooners and wooden vessels over the years, they just start to deteriorate and … now it's just a matter of deciding what to do. It's really up to them (the province),' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'They've definitely done things over the years to preserve it and now I would guess there's going to be a bigger decision being made.' Paul Baskett, a shipwright and owner of the Old Town Boatworks in Lunenburg said if a major refit of the schooner is needed to keep the vessel safely afloat, it will likely be costly. He said there are aspects of the vessel that have been fascinating for the public to see over the years, such as the portion of the boat where the crew of about 24 fishers used to sleep and work. 'It's absolutely amazing, it gives you goosebumps if you're into that sort of thing,' he said. However, he said it may be possible to take that space and attach it to the museum, without having to spend millions of dollars retrofitting the vessel to allow it to remain in the water. 'It would be an amazing exhibit, and it would cost a lot less than building a new schooner,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
