The tragic death of a five-year-old boy found living in squalor in Brimbank has sparked a change in the state’s birth registration practices.
Spencer Oatley (a pseudonym used by the County Court) died in 2012 after cutting his foot on an open cat food can on the floor of a filth-ridden house, but authorities didn’t even know he existed as his birth was never registered.
Spencer’s death was the trigger for the state government to implement recommendations from an inquiry into very isolated children, requiring every birth at a Victorian hospital to be automatically registered.
Child protection authorities will also receive alerts if children miss key milestones, including immunisations, maternal and child health check-ups, and enrolments at kindergarten, primary and secondary schools.
Children and Young People Commissioner Bernie Geary, who conducted the inquiry, said it was astounding none of the new practices had previously been in place, and he called Spencer’s death a “wake-up call”.
“We are thankful that the one positive thing that comes out of this little boy’s death will be some positive change, so there is a degree of honouring his life,” Mr Geary said.
Currently, midwives and nurses at Victorian hospitals give parents a birth registration statement form to lodge within 60 days of their child’s birth.
Former community services minister Mary Wooldridge ordered the inquiry at the time of Spencer’s death. She called the case “bewildering”.
“It’s unusual that children would be completely off the radar,” she said.
The boy’s parents pleaded guilty to criminal charges over the hazards their son and a surviving brother faced at home. The mother told police she had a hoarding problem but the family had never sought help.
Hoarding is estimated to affect about one in 20 households in Victoria.
Salvation Army Social Housing Service support co-ordinator Keith Hunte said the Brimbank-based service gets several referrals a week from the Department of Human Services for tenants who have hoarding issues.
“We engage with them and conduct a safety check to see if there are working smoke detectors and safe exits [in their homes],” he said.
Brimbank council community well-being director Neil Whiteside said if the council was made aware of hoarding behaviours, it could involve other family members to connect with appropriate support services.
“If [we] have concerns about the hygiene and safety of a child following a maternal and child health home visit, [we] report these concerns to child protection,” Mr Whiteside said.
– with The Age
