How Could You? Hall of Shame-Australia-Zhane Chilcott case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.A 2016 case came to light.

From Adelaide, Australia, foster child Shane Chilcott committed suicide in 2016.

‘A teenage boy who spent the majority of his life in foster care was shuffled around to 18 different homes before taking his own life, a report has revealed.

One of Zayne’s foster families were later hit with criminal charges for an alleged assault while he was in their care.

However, these charges were dropped shortly after Zhane’s death.

Mr Whittle said there were missed opportunities for early intervention before he went into care along with others that could have dealt with past traumas.

These traumas related to having so many placements in quick succession and other opportunities to address Zayne’s psychiatric issues.

“An analysis of those missed opportunities does not lead with certainty to the conclusion that Zhane’s death by suicide was preventable,” the coroner said.

“I do find, however, that there were a number of missed opportunities in Zhane’s case to moderate the chances of death by suicide.

“The cumulative effect of all those failings was to increase his risk of suicide.

Had those failings not occurred, it can only be said that the risk of Zhane taking his own life must have been reduced.

Zhane was just three months old when the first report was made to authorities about his welfare with his biological family and was removed six months later.

He later spent six years with an Adelaide family, an arrangement which was ended after reports of physical and sexual assault.

A later foster care placement in the state’s mid-north resulted in Zayne finally thriving but this was ended when authorities had refused to provide extra money.

After this, Zayne was placed in a residential facility which cost more than his carer had requested.

Mr Whittle’s findings recommended that a register be started for children in SA’s state care that would record all self-harm incidents or threats.

He also said foster families’ payments should be reviewed in order to increase the number of people willing to take children in.”

Heartbreaking reality behind boy’s death after years in foster care
[News.com Australia 4/7/23 by Holly Hales]

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