Home / Monitoring / Child death case review committee

Child death case review committee

Child Death Case Review Committee

What is the Child Death Case Review Committee?

The Child Death Case Review Committee (CDCRC) has been established to increase the accountability of the child protection system in Queensland .

Since 1 August 2004 , the Department of Child Safety has been required to review its involvement in each case where a child dies, if the child was known to the department in the three years before he or she died.

The department has six months from the time it learns about the death of a child known to it to provide the CDCRC with its report on the original child death review.

What is the CDCRC’s role?

The CDCRC considers the department’s reviews and makes recommendations about:

• improving policies which impact on services to children in the child protection system
• improving relationships between the department and other agencies involved with children and their families, and
• whether disciplinary action should be taken against any departmental staff in relation to their involvement with a child.

Who sits on the CDCRC?

The CDCRC is a multi-disciplinary committee made up of between five and seven members with expertise in fields including child health, forensic pathology, investigations and child protection.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian chairs the CDCRC and the Assistant Commissioner is one of its members.

Current membership of the CDCRC comprises:

• Elizabeth Fraser (Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian)
• Barry Salmon (Assistant Commissioner, Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian)
• Robert Atkinson (Commissioner of Police)
• Michael Barnes (State Coroner)
• Dr Colin Brennan (Psychiatrist)
• McRose Elu ( Torres Strait Islander Representative)
• Trudi Sebasio (Aboriginal Representative)
• Neil Wigg (Paediatrician)
• Jennifer Wiltshire (Social Work Consultant)

Is the CDCRC part of the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian?

The CDCRC acts independently, but the Commission provides it with secretariat support.

How long does the CDCRC have to carry out each review?

The CDCRC must prepare and provide a report on its review of each case to the Director-General of the Department of Child Safety within three months of receiving the report from the Department.

How does the CDCRC ensure its recommendations are carried out?

Under the legislation, the CDCRC can ask the Director-General of Child Safety to advise what actions have been taken and what progress has been made to implement its recommendations. The CDCRC will monitor and report on the implementation of its recommendations in its Annual Report.

What can the CDCRC do if it is not satisfied with the department’s response to recommendations?

The CDCRC can provide a copy of its report to the Premier and the Minister responsible for the Department of Child Safety if it is not satisfied with the department’s actions.

Does the Committee have to follow particular terms of reference?

Yes. The CDCRC is required to establish the review criteria to be followed in the review of each case.