WA Child Protection Minister Flies to Pilbara After 15 Kids Found Unsupervised

Western Australia’s Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski flew to Port Hedland on Monday, September 14, after The Australian reported that up to 15 children, some as young as five, were frequently left alone for days at a time in a Department of Housing and Works property in South Hedland. The scandal has exposed alleged failures by child protection workers to act on complaints from residents, police, and other agencies about the conditions at the Frisby Court home.

What happened at the South Hedland home

Up to 15 children, including some as young as five, were found living unsupervised in a public housing property at Frisby Court in South Hedland. Parents who rented the house from the Department of Housing and Works frequently left the children alone for up to a week at a time. The newspaper reported that child protection workers knew about the conditions but failed to take action despite complaints from residents, police, and other services.

Caseworker allegations of ignored warnings

A child protection caseworker has accused officials of ignoring warnings that girls as young as 11 were being bribed with drugs for sex. The caseworker reported four cases of alleged child sexual abuse to police and child protection authorities, but claims the department showed no appetite for investigating the reports. The allegations suggest systemic failures in the department’s response to vulnerable Aboriginal children in the East Kimberley and Pilbara regions.

Government response and investigation

Premier Roger Cook called the disclosed information very distressing and said the Department of Child Protection has a responsibility to monitor and address such situations. Minister Stojkovski flew to Port Hedland to investigate the circumstances. In a statement, Stojkovski said no child should have their safety and wellbeing put at risk and that she was seeking urgent answers about the children and what actions were being taken.

Community concerns about systemic failure

Kariyarra elder Pat Mason said children being left unsupervised was a serious problem in South Hedland and that the system was failing to cope. She stressed that adults must ensure children’s safety regardless of whose children they are. The case has raised questions about whether the Department of Child Protection has adequate resources and oversight in remote and regional areas where vulnerable Aboriginal families live.

Final Thoughts

The Port Hedland case exposes critical gaps in Western Australia’s child protection system. With up to 15 children left unsupervised and allegations of ignored abuse reports, the department faces pressure to act swiftly and reform its response to vulnerable children in remote regions.

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