Inquest into the death of Jade

Case Number: 2018/00170231

Date of Findings: 24 June 2025

Magistrate: Deputy State Coroner, Joan Baptie

CORONIAL LAW – Death of 3-year-old First Nations child - family known to DCJ - staffing and resources at DCJ - domestic violence - need for multiagency cooperation - cause and manner of death

Responses

Recommendations

To the Chief Executive, The Benevolent Society (TBS)

1. The Benevolent Society review the training, and messaging, to TBS Brighter Futures practitioners around the need for strict compliance with the mandatory reporting obligations under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (CYP Act) having regard to these findings. 

To the Secretary of DCJ

1. The Secretary consider issuing a directive to all Brighter Future’s providers emphasising strict compliance with mandatory reporting obligations having regard to these findings. As part of recommissioning all family preservation services DCJ should, having specific regard to these findings and recommendations made in this inquest, recognise and emphasise that family preservation providers hold mandatory reporting responsibilities under the CYP Act, reflecting this in contracts, program specifications and other program implementation documentation and activities.

To the Minister for Families and Communities

1. To the Minister for Families and Communities: The Minister review these findings and examine the caseworker capacity of the Muswellbrook Community Services Centre and consider the other issues canvassed in these findings.