A senior coordinator is set to oversee multiagency work and report to Western Australia's Child Protection Minister as the response to at-risk children in the Pilbara continues.
The state government announced the appointment of Janelle Marr as Senior Coordinator for the Pilbara on Monday.
Ms Marr has been appointed with, as outlined, a background in governance and strategy, Indigenous health and safety, and more than 25 years in leadership roles.
She'll assist in the establishment of longer-term functions and processes in the response delivered by multiple agencies.
It follows reports first revealed in The Australian of a state government-owned home on Frisby Court in Port Hedland where up to 15 children, including the children of the tenants, were reportedly being left in poor conditions unsupervised for days at a time. Authorities had received complaints about the home for several months.
In recent weeks, a number of specific measures to support children at risk in Port Hedland have been established.
The Frisby Court matter was not the first example of concern in the region.
According to the West Australian on Monday, WA Attorney General Tony Buti is yet to decide whether an inquest will be established into the death of three First Nations children under 10 years old who were killed by their mother in 2022.
The children's grandmother, Yamatji-Wajarri woman Dorothy Papertalk, has made strong requests for an inquest to examine why her multiple warnings to authorities did not lead to the removal of the children for their safety.
Roundtable meetings were also called for, and established, in the wake of the Frisby Court matter.
A review of the Regional Child Protection System in the Pilbara, detailed last by the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, Sue-Anne Hunter, will "examine how agencies respond to children and families, whether they work together effectively, and what actions would improve those responses".
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Weekly interagency meetings, including state agencies, Local Government and local Aboriginal Controlled Organisations have been established, with Ms Marr to lead the meetings.
WA Minister for the Pilbara, Amber-Jade Sanderson, said "child safety is a whole of Government and community responsibility".
"The Senior Coordinator will provide critical co-ordination across Government and Aboriginal controlled organisation," the Minister said.
"This is not only keeping children safe but ensuring they are thriving."
Following consultation with the local community, the state government has began delivering a range of measures in Port Hedland, including the expansion of a Safe Night Space to seven nights a week, and development of senior specialist child protection staff to the Pilbara.
A Chief Practitioner overseeing child safety investigations and intensive family support cases, including complex and outstanding cases, in Port Hedland has also been appointed.
"Janelle Marr is a highly qualified and respected leadership professional who will bring immense experience and deep knowledge to the role of Senior Coordinator," Child Protection WA Minister for Child Protection Jessica Stojkovski said.
"Ms Marr has a proven track record of leading real change in service delivery.
"The position of Senior Coordinator will be influential in setting out the framework to ensure government agencies and community service partners are maximising their resources to deliver intensive supports to where they are needed most."
