The Western Australian government has directed its senior child-protection practitioner to oversee all child-safety investigations and intensive family support cases in Port Hedland for the remainder of 2024, aiming to provide “senior direction on complex cases” amid ongoing concerns about the safety of vulnerable children in the region.
Minister for Child Protection, Reece Stojkovski, recently visited the area twice in response to reports surrounding the conditions at a property on Frisby Court, a location implicated in allegations of children being left unsupervised for extended periods. However, the minister stated she found no evidence supporting claims that up to 15 children were regularly left alone for days at a time. The government acknowledged the South Hedland Department of Communities (DCP) office is currently understaffed, with only 96 of 144 full-time child protection practitioner roles filled. Several vacancies have remained open for months.
Parliamentary secretary Pierre Yang confirmed efforts to bolster the workforce, noting the arrival of four additional child safety practitioners to the Pilbara district, including two senior development practitioners and two child safety workers. On average, child protection caseworkers in the Pilbara manage caseloads of approximately 11 children each. The DCP’s statewide relief team has also been deployed to the region ten times over the past year to support local staff.
The controversy intensifies amid calls for an independent inquest into previous child protection failures. Dorothy Papertalk, grandmother to three children who were killed in Port Hedland in a methamphetamine-related incident two years ago, has repeatedly sought answers from the government about DCP’s involvement. Papertalk said she met with Stojkovski to demand an investigation and pressed for accountability, expressing frustration over the department's past actions. The minister conveyed her condolences but did not issue a formal apology, leaving local elders angered by what they describe as a lack of genuine engagement.
Kariyarra elder Pat Mason criticized the minister’s handling of the crisis, highlighting that police have reportedly attended the Frisby Court residence more than 50 times within the year. Mason called for leadership changes at both the ministerial and premier levels if meaningful reforms are not implemented. “Enough is enough,” Mason stated, underscoring the urgent need to protect children in the community.
Internal department documents obtained earlier this year revealed significant shortcomings by the DCP in the management of the Hawke children’s case. The Case Practice Review, completed in mid-2024, identified at least 11 failures, including inadequate communication and partnership with Papertalk. Sources within the department describe little progress since the review despite these findings.
The issue has drawn attention from federal politicians as well. Senator Jacinta McCarthy confirmed she is seeking clarification from Western Australian officials about the situation. Senator Claire Price criticized the government’s approach, arguing that priority is being placed on cultural considerations over child safety. Price referenced previous appeals to the Senate regarding Indigenous child protection following the high-profile murder of her niece in the Northern Territory, lamenting a perceived lack of national action.
As the government scrambles to address staff shortages and rebuild community trust, the fate of Port Hedland’s vulnerable children remains a focal point of scrutiny and debate.