Elizabeth Struhs child protection case not prioritised amid high workload, inquest hears

Case handling under scrutiny

Child safety staff became involved after Elizabeth was taken to hospital in a coma in 2019. The department later returned her to the sole care of her father, Jason Struhs, despite objections from specialist doctors in Brisbane, under a voluntary intervention requiring parental agreement.

The officer assigned to the case told the inquest she did not make weekly visits during that period, although departmental guidelines called for them. She said the case was not treated as complex, despite the intervention.

Officer describes workload

The officer said the child safety service centre was very busy and she was often away visiting other families. She told the court she may have prioritised children thought to face more immediate danger. She said the cases she usually handled involved significant domestic violence, drug use and sexual abuse, and that working with an upper-class family like the Struhs was unusual for her.

Personal concerns and faith

The officer said her own child had nearly died from type 1 diabetes at age six, and that she had asked not to be assigned to Elizabeth’s case. She also told the inquest she had not understood the danger posed by the mother’s church group, which she regarded as a source of support.

In her statement, the officer said Jason had agreed to continue treating Elizabeth despite his wife’s beliefs. She said she had faith that he would leave his wife if Kerrie stood in the way.

Inquest examines decisions

Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard is conducting the inquest into Elizabeth’s death. On Friday, she asked another child safety witness whether there had been organisational pressure to finalise a matter like this quickly.

Elizabeth died on 7 January 2022 in Toowoomba, Queensland, after Jason stopped providing insulin for her type 1 diabetes. He had joined his wife’s religious sect in 2021; the group denied the use of medicine.