Elizabeth Struhs’ mother, Kerrie Struhs, was assessed as posing no immediate risk to others by correctional services just three weeks before her eight-year-old daughter’s death, a Brisbane inquest has heard.

Kerrie Struhs had been serving a five-month jail sentence for child neglect following a 2019 incident in which she failed to take Elizabeth to hospital for treatment of the child’s type 1 diabetes. At the time, Elizabeth was in a critical condition upon hospital admission, reportedly near death and in a coma. Following her discharge, Elizabeth was placed in the care of her father, Jason Struhs, who was later convicted of child neglect related to the same incident.

On December 16, 2021, Kerrie was released from prison on court-ordered parole and underwent assessments by two correctional officers. According to evidence presented at the inquest on Monday, one parole intake officer, who interviewed Kerrie on the day of her release, conducted an immediate risk assessment but was not provided with comprehensive information about her offending history. The officer did not have access to the QP9 file—documents prepared by prosecutors and police containing details of Kerrie’s conviction—or the judge’s sentencing remarks, which were unavailable due to an administrative error.

Despite this limited information, the officer determined there was no immediate risk posed by Kerrie to herself or others. During the assessment, Kerrie reportedly stated her belief that God would heal Elizabeth and that she would not interfere if others sought medical treatment for her daughter. However, she also expressed that she would choose the same path again, emphasizing her reliance on faith.

The inquest revealed that a child safety officer had previously classified Elizabeth as “safe” shortly after her 2019 hospital admission. Tragically, Elizabeth died 22 days after Kerrie’s release, from diabetic ketoacidosis. The fatal event occurred in their Toowoomba, Queensland home after Jason Struhs ceased providing insulin treatment for Elizabeth.

The hearing highlights concerns about the flow of critical information between correctional services and parole officers, as well as the supervision and risk management of individuals with histories involving vulnerable children.