TEEN CRASH DEATHS IN SPOTLIGHT
Inquest to look at state care amid warning more lives will be lost
THE former carer of a Cairns orphan killed while joy-riding in a stolen car has demanded an inquiry into management of children in state care before more lives are lost.
Tiarnie Mueller who took Bradley Smith, 14, under her wing said there needed to be change to protect young lives.
Her appeal comes as a hearing into the death of Bailey Pini, 13, in a Bowen crash was told an inquest would look at statewide policies for residential care.
THE former carer of a Cairns orphan killed while joy-riding in a stolen car has demanded an inquiry into management of children in state care before more lives are lost.
On February 14 this year, Bradley Smith was a passenger in an allegedly stolen car when the Toyota Yaris lost control at high speed and crashed into a tree on Pease St, Manoora.
Tiarnie Mueller took Bradley under her wing after her daughter began dating his friend. To keep him off the street, she acted as an informal carer for about three months in 2021.
Ms Mueller said Bradley became part of the family and she felt a nurturing environment had a positive impact on the lad who was beginning to go off the rails.
“My daughter was dating Bradley’s friend and she brought them in (after) they were living on the streets, homeless,” she said.
“I took them fishing and took them to the beach and swimming,” Ms Mueller said.
“They loved fishing, and I got them cast nets and fishing rods.”
Then Child Safety stepped in and placed the 13-year-old at the time in a residential care home.
“These kids just love the company of a family unit and if I had support from these services then it would have made it a lot easier to look after him rather than them pressuring me to get him into their care,” she said.
“I had Child Safety putting the heavy on me.”
Ms Mueller said that before taking Bradley in, he had chosen to live on the street rather than be in what’s known as resi care.
But soon after being placed in an ITEC Group home in Whitfield the teen was absconding. It’s not known if Bradley’s absence the night he died was reported to police or how long he had been away from the home.
“I don’t blame the resi care home, staff or anything like that,” she said.
But the mother-of-three said she believed the system needed to change.
“They can’t just be lenient and hope that (children) will be back in a few hours – in that time they could have stolen a car and killed someone or overdosed,” she said.
“These children should not be able to dictate where they want to self-place, these are minors and need adults making decisions for them.
“Especially if they are under the influence of drugs.
“There needs to be some sort of inquiry to overhaul (the system) – the way things are going there is going to be more deaths.
“The government needs to look into building another facility, which caters to mental health, drug dependency and schooling.”
A Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs spokeswoman said the Child Protection Act prevented the department from disclosing whether a child was known to the department when asked about circumstances that led to the death of Bradley Smith.
Questions regarding an inquest into the death of a child in state care went unanswered.
“All deaths of children in care are reported to the coroner as required by law.
“It would be inappropriate to comment on a matter before the courts,” the spokeswoman said.
ITEC Group was contacted for comment, but had not responded.