The death of any child is a tragedy and each year too many Queensland children and young people’s lives are prematurely cut short.
In the 12-month period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, the deaths of 410 children and young people aged 0–17 years were registered in Queensland.
The loss of each of these children will have a long-lasting impact on their family, their friends, and our community. The Queensland Family and Child Commission records information about the deaths of all these children in the child death register. In operation since 2004, the register currently contains over 8,000 records, capturing information about a child’s demographics, cause and circumstances of death and, where known, certain characteristics or vulnerabilities. It is a critical resource allowing the Commission to analyse trends and patterns in child mortality, including risk factors for death. We use this information to contribute to research, inform policy improvement and support community safety initiatives aimed at reducing the likelihood of child deaths.
Deaths from natural causes (diseases and morbid conditions) accounted for a large proportion of child deaths, with these most likely to occur in the first days and weeks of life. Child mortality from external causes includes deaths from injuries, either non-intentional (accidental) injuries such as transport incidents or drowning, or from intentional injuries, which includes suicide and fatal assault and neglect. Due to the relatively small numbers involved, caution should be exercised in interpreting year-to-year changes.