More tragic revelations come to light in the alleged murder of a Mildura toddler.
It has been revealed that the home Nikki Francis-Coslovich lived in was visited 14 times by government officials in the months before her death.
Her father was urging them to protect his daughter, whom he alleged was being exposed to ice use, just days before the toddler disappeared.
There were numerous reports about the concerning state of her home environment and the potential threat of physical harm to the two-year-old – who was often found in dirty clothes and with matted hair.
Yet, child protection closed the case five weeks before her little body was found lifeless in the roof cavity of her mother’s Mildura home on August 25.
And, worse still, they did not identify her alleged killer – her mother’s 31-year-old partner John Torney – as a threat.
In fact, he didn’t even get a mention in the series of reports obtained by the Herald Sun.
The newspaper reports workers found the family home was chaotic, unhygienic and of “significant concern”.
The reports found her home environment posed “the potential for physical harm”.
“Ongoing discussions around the state of the home environment — it is often chaotic and unclean with clothing, toys and other items spread across all surfaces, food scraps, and spills present and cat faeces on the floor,” a report states.
“There is toys, clothing and other objects spread across the home and all surfaces. In the kitchen there is food scraps and spills.
“Writer believes that the home environment poses a risk to the children — there is the potential for physical harm given there is limited space to move around, and the presence of cat feces (sic), food scraps and overflowing bins is unhygienic.”
A report stated Nikki often presented during the visits in just a nappy and top, unclean clothes and with unbrushed and matted hair.
The social workers, who spent almost 100 hours with the family over two months, reported that Nikki had a positive relationship with her parents, but did not mention Mr Torney, who will remain in custody until his next court appearance in December.
We will not have any answers on why the little girl died and what appears to be a shocking failure on the part of child protection until the matter is fully ventilated in court.
Until then, she will remain in our thoughts.
Top Comments
To guest and Jemima you have no idea what I have done what I do and if I could or could not move heaven and earth. I am not going to go into my qualifications or work experience (but they are pretty impressive). I stand by what I said. Jemima you talk about this beautiful child and yet you make excuses for the people who should have taken notice. I do not agree with you sorry. As for the expression 'Hitler's henchmen' it leads back to the idea that people follow orders blindly without any regard for the victim. Not comparing anyone to Nazis. I still stand by what Kate B said.
Sorry Belinda I agree with Kate B completely. Someone needed to look out for this kid and no one did. I would move heaven and earth to help this kid if I was working in that field. Easy to say blame the guy but you see what you see. The social worker was following orders huh just like Hitler's henchmen?
The prevention of violence against women and children extends far beyond the actions that an individual worker can take. To scapegoat a professional in this manner does not help to protect children. Bella, what have you done to protect a vulnerable child in the last week? Would you even know how to recognise one? I am a social worker and a lawyer and I have worked in the child protection system for over 20 years. To refer to the hardworking advocates that I am proud to call colleagues as "Hitler's henchmen" is beyond offence; it's ludicrous. There will be an inquiry into this beautiful child's death, and I hope that the failings in the system are laid out bare and that such a situation is prevented from happening again.
yeah but you're not working in that field are you? social workers are desperately overworked and underresourced, and there were probably a dozen other kids in worse situations, with not enough foster carers to place them with. Easy to say you'd move heaven and earth, but just exactly how would you propose to do that? unfortunately, they have to make heartbreaking decisions every day. While you don't. And then you blame them for doing their jobs. If you really cared you'd do something about it....get started on shifting heaven and earth.
Jemima, I couldn't agree more. To blame the workers who slog it out day in day out is ludicrous. And to compare them to Nazi's is appalling.
I have a friend who is a social worker and the things that she has to put up with and, at the same time, try to do her job is ridiculous. Underfunded, understaffed and red tape and bureaucracy is always put before the welfare of a child.