The 2012 Victorian Child Death Review Committee (VCDRC) Annual Report was tabled in State Parliament on June 21 by the Hon. Mary Wooldridge, Minister for Community Services.

The committee’s 80-page report outlines the cause of death of children who died in the 2011 calendar year and were clients of the State Government’s Child Protection services at the time of, or within 12 months prior, to their death.

The committee reported 28 deaths, finding the most common cause of death was acquired or congenital illness (12), followed by road accident (four), drug or substance-related (two) and suicide (two). The causes of death in the remaining eight cases are awaiting determination by the Victorian Coroner.

VCDRC is an independent, multi disciplinary ministerial advisory team of experts that reviews the causes of these deaths and presents its findings and recommendations. Click here to download a copy of the report.