Queensland’s coroner has heard that the child protection case involving eight‑year‑old Elizabeth Struhs was not given priority because the caseworker assigned to her was “very busy”. The girl died in 2022 after her religious parents denied her insulin, a decision that prompted a formal inquest into the handling of her case.
During the hearing, the coroner was told that the caseworker may have been “overly influenced” by the appearance of the Struhs family’s “upper‑class home”, leading to other investigations that were perceived as presenting a more immediate risk being placed ahead of Elizabeth’s situation.
The inquest highlighted concerns about workload pressures within Queensland’s child protection agency, suggesting that high caseloads can affect the intensity and focus of investigations. The coroner’s remarks point to a need for clearer prioritisation protocols when vulnerable children are at risk.
Queensland’s child protection system, overseen by the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, is responsible for safeguarding children from neglect and abuse. The case of Elizabeth Struhs adds to ongoing scrutiny of how the agency manages cases involving families with strong religious convictions and the potential impact of socioeconomic factors on protective interventions.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
