Number of Qld children known to child safety who died up 60 pc
Last financial year, 91 children known to child protection services died, the highest number in five years.
The number of Queensland children known to child protection services who died rose by 59.6% in the 2025-26 financial year, according to the Queensland Family and Child Commission's annual report. Out of 452 children who died, 91 were under the care of child protection systems, marking a significant increase from the previous year.
Natural causes accounted for 312 deaths, while external causes, such as transport incidents and non-intentional injuries, contributed to 94 fatalities. Quad bikes and severe nutritional deficiencies, including children being fed almost exclusively with cow's milk, posed risks to children in rural communities. The report recommended improvements in coronial data collection and a review of the school the deceased child was enrolled in.
The state government has been urged to address systemic issues and strengthen future prevention efforts.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
