Australian and New Zealand Child Death Review and Prevention Group

Grace Sholl
Suicidologist and lived experience advocate

This presentation, Beyond Band-Aid Solutions: Multifactorial Approaches to Understanding and Addressing Youth Suicidality, explores the complex factors contributing to youth suicide and emphasises the need for comprehensive, evidence-based interventions. Instead of surface-level solutions, it advocates for a deeper, multidimensional approach, integrating social, psychological, and systemic perspectives.

Key themes include identifying risk and protective factors, addressing structural barriers to support, and implementing policies that foster resilience. By combining clinical insights, community engagement, and policy-driven strategies, the presentation aims to promote sustainable and effective responses to reduce youth suicidality.

Professor Silke Meyer
Leneen Forde Chair in Child & Family Research Griffith University

Maria Atienzar-Prieto
School of Health Sciences and Social Work , Griffith University

This presentation explores a study examining the childhood experiences of domestic and family violence (DFV) among young people who died by suicide. It investigates the impact of early exposure to DFV on mental health, coping mechanisms, and long-term well-being.

By analysing case data and patterns, the study aims to identify key risk factors and opportunities for intervention. It highlights the need for trauma-informed approaches, early support systems, and policy responses to mitigate the effects of DFV and reduce suicide risk among vulnerable youth.

Dr Holly Blackmore
Research Manager, Death Review
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety

Anna Butler
Co-Chair of the Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety
Manager, Domestic Violence Review Team

This presentation examines cases of filicide within the context of domestic and family violence (DFV) between 2010 and 2018. It explores the underlying patterns, risk factors, and systemic challenges associated with these tragic incidents. By analysing case data, the presentation aims to highlight the complex interplay between DFV, parental distress, and societal responses. Key themes include identifying warning signs, improving intervention strategies, and strengthening protective measures for children at risk.

The discussion emphasises the need for comprehensive, multi-agency approaches to prevent filicide and support vulnerable families.

Judith Lovegrove
Community Member - Oversight and Advocacy Authority for Aboriginal Infants, Children and Young People

The South Australian Aboriginal Authority is a group of leaders and thinkers from the Aboriginal community who review the deaths of Aboriginal children in South Australia. The Authority is developing a model for Aboriginal child death review and has significant experience with the benefits and challenges.

Commissioner Anne Hollonds
National Children’s Commissioner
Australian Human Rights Commission

Report: Improving the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children – a consolidation of systemic recommendations and evidence. The report is the result of a collaboration between the Australian Institute of Family Studies and Anne Hollonds, National Children’s Commissioner (Australian Human Rights Commission).

Dr Julie McEniery
Queensland Paediatric Quality Council

This presentation outlines key findings from the review of Queensland Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) cases between 2013 and 2016. It examines patterns, contributing factors, and opportunities for prevention, drawing insights from case data to identify risks associated with infant sleep environments, health conditions, and social circumstances.

The discussion highlights strategies for reducing SUDI occurrences, including safe sleep practices, targeted public health messaging, and improved support for vulnerable families. By analysing trends over this period, the presentation aims to inform policy and prevention efforts to enhance infant safety and well-being.

Professor Julie Brown
Co-Director, Transurban Road Safety Centre at NeuRA
Injury Prevention Research Centre
The George Institute

This presentation examines restraint practices among fatally injured child passengers compared to the general child passenger population. It explores how factors such as proper seatbelt use, child restraint systems, and compliance with safety guidelines influence injury outcomes in vehicle accidents.

By analysing case data and broader trends, the discussion highlights gaps in safety practices, opportunities for improved public awareness, and potential policy enhancements to better protect children in transit.

The presentation underscores the importance of education, enforcement, and advancements in restraint technology to reduce fatalities and improve overall child passenger safety.

Stacey Pidgeon
Royal Life Saving Society Australia

This presentation explores how coronial data has been used to shape the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030, providing insights into drowning incidents and informing evidence-based prevention measures. It reflects on key lessons learned from examining fatal water-related cases, identifying trends, risk factors, and gaps in existing safety initiatives. The discussion highlights the role of data-driven approaches in strengthening policies, improving public awareness, and enhancing intervention strategies. By leveraging coronial findings, the presentation aims to support ongoing efforts to reduce drowning rates and promote safer water practices across Australia.

Preschool Predictors of Early Adolescent Suicidality

• Dr Joan Luby - Washington university School of Medicine (US)

Australian Youth Self-Harm Atlas: Spatial modelling and mapping of self-harm prevalence to inform youth suicide prevention strategies

• Dr Emily Hielscher - The University of Queensland

Paediatric Sepsis Mortality Study – Findings and recommendations for practice improvement

• Dr Rebecca Shipstone - Queensland Family and Child Commission
• Dr Paula Lister - Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Program Children’s Health Queensland

Findings from a multi-incident review of serious paediatric clinical incident reports in Queensland

• Dr Sharon Anne McAuley - Chair, Queensland Paediatric Quality Council
• Jodie Osborne - Coordinator, Queensland Paediatric Quality Council

Genome testing in child death review and prevention

• Dr Joanna Garstang - NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

Family Violence review committee (NZ) – An ongoing duty to care – responding to survivors of family violence homicide

• Kiri Matiatos - Principal Advisor, Family Violence Mortality Review

The machinery of child death prevention, best practice for recommendations to be implemented

• Dr Gabrielle McDonald - Otago University

This session showcases projects where agencies have shared knowledge, information and linked data to support case analyses and improve understanding of the causes and risk factors in child deaths.

Understanding paediatric deaths from sepsis: the value of linked data and interprofessional partnerships

• Dr Rebecca Shipstone, Queensland Family and Child Commission and Dr Paula Lister, Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Program, Children’s Health Queensland

Linking First Nations suicide mortality rates with community cultural connectedness data: Examining protective influences to guide suicide prevention

• Ms Mandy Gibson, Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University Queensland

Insights from linked injury data to improve understanding and prevention of child deaths

• Professor Kirsten Vallmuur, Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Jamieson Trauma Institute

Observations and insights on the Queensland child death review model

• Dr Andrea Josipovic, Queensland Child Death Review Board Secretariat, Queensland Family and Child Commission

This session explores how classification algorithms can help to better identify unsafe sleep factors and suffocation in infants. It explores the importance of understanding airway protection in safer sleep messaging and product safety regulation.

Classification and identification of accidental suffocation – US SUID case registry

• Dr Sharyn Parks, Brown National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States) (Pre-recorded)

Easier to Breathe – Safer to Sleep: Understanding airway protection mechanisms builds trust in safer sleep messages

• Dr Julie McEniery and Dr Diane Cruice, Queensland Paediatric Quality Council

Safe sleep environment through product safety and regulation of infant products

• Dr Ruth Barker, Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit  and Ms Susan Teerds, Kidsafe Queensland

This session is for professionals and researchers working in child death classification. It provides essential information to support decision-makers planning the transition from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems version 10 (ICD-10) and the implementation of classification system ICD-11 with a focus on those changes, implementation plans being developed here in Australia and some specific changes currently under discussion with the international community and WHO on Sudden Unexplained Deaths of Infants (SUDI). It also identifies impacts of the revised population estimates from the 2021 Census, particularly for First Nations populations.

ICD-11 – A new platform for mortality data and future child death review work

• Mr James Eynstone-Hinkins and Ms Lauren Moran, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Impact of new 2021 Census based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population estimates on monitoring in Queensland

• Ms Roslyn Gittins and Mr Edwin Lee, Queensland Government Statistician’s Office