Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following article contains the name and image of a person who has died, with permission from the family.
The following article also contains references to suicide, which may be distressing to readers
A Melbourne hospital where a young Aboriginal woman took her life in 2024 after presenting for psychiatric care has been charged by WorkSafe Victoria, with the woman's mother welcoming the decision and saying the hospital "should be held accountable".
Tagalaka, Kukatja and Worimi woman Makalie Watts-Owen died at St Vincent's Hospital in February 2024, days after her 24th birthday. She was working at the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions and studying law when she voluntarily admitted herself on Thursday, 15 February, seeking psychiatric support.
Despite telling staff she was having suicidal thoughts, at the time of her death, Makalie's mother, Sharon Watts, said her daughter had been given medication to help her sleep but was left alone in her room, where she took her own life.
WorkSafe Victoria has laid two charges against St Vincent's Hospital under section 23(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for "failing to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risk".
The first filing hearing is scheduled for February 17.
In a statement on Thursday, Ms Watts welcomed the announcement and said her daughter "should still be with us today". She argued the hospital failed to keep Makalie safe, adding her daughter "was seeking support, and they failed her".
"St Vincent's should be held accountable, so this never happens again to anyone else's child," Ms Watts said.
"I just want her back."
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) are representing Ms Watts, with CEO Nerita Waight saying hospitals are meant to be places of safety and care for vulnerable people seeking help. However, for First Peoples, too often this is not the case.
"The circumstances around Makalie's passing are tragic. Makalie had a full life ahead of her; she wanted to study law and work in Child Protection," Ms Waight said.
"My heart breaks for Sharon and all those who loved Makalie. VALS will continue to support Sharon and her family in their pursuit of answers and justice and all the individuals and families and organisations who seek — in both big and small ways — to improve the safety of hospitals for our communities."
VALS Principal Managing Lawyer in the Civil and Human Rights Practice, Siobhan Doyle, said First Nations people experience higher rates of mental health issues and are at greater risk of self-harm and suicide.
"There is clear, well-documented evidence of this. It is unfathomable that we are still having to advocate for hospitals to eliminate ligature risks," Ms Doyle said.
While WorkSafe Victoria has not publicly detailed the two charges, National Indigenous Times understands they relate to an alleged failure by the hospital to manage ligature points.
Ms Doyle said lives are put at risk when hospitals and healthcare workers fail to provide "holistic, trauma-informed and culturally capable care".
"That should be [the] minimum standards in mental health care," she said, noting VALS currently represents three Aboriginal people who died by suicide in Victorian hospitals.
"I hope today's announcement is step forward in ensuring hospitals are safer for everyone."
Data released last year by the Yirramboi Murrup Unit at the Coroners Court of Victoria shows the suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remains three times higher than for non-Indigenous Victorians, with 56.6 per cent of deaths occurring among people under 35.
Since 2022, Indigenous deaths by suicide have increased by 42 per cent, with the average age of death 37 for men and 29.6 for women.
Ms Watts said the grief in the two years since Makalie's death has been "overwhelming", but described WorkSafe Victoria's announcement as a "step towards achieving justice in her name".
"But this fight is not over," Ms Watts said. "Her life mattered and she deserved better."
Yarning Safe N Strong (24/7) | 1800 959 563
Thirrili - The National Indigenous Postvention Service - After Suicide Support (24/7) | 1800 805 801
13YARN | 13 92 76 (24/7)
Lifeline Australia (24/7) | 13 11 14
