‘Significant failures’ led two NSW foster children to be placed with serial killer, review finds

Coverage Comparison

Two Australian media outlets, ABC Australia and The Guardian, have reported on an internal review into a serious child welfare failure in New South Wales. The reports agree on the core facts: two foster children were placed in a home with Regina Arthurell, a woman convicted of murder and manslaughter, and the department was alerted to the situation in December but failed to act.

ABC Australia's coverage focuses on the departmental failings, describing the review as identifying "significant shortcomings" in risk identification. The Guardian reports that two staff members have been suspended pending misconduct investigations, a detail not mentioned in ABC's report. Both outlets quote officials and use critical language to describe the department's handling of the case.

Key Claims

According to both ABC Australia and The Guardian, the department was informed on December 23 that one foster child was living in the same home as Regina Arthurell. The Guardian adds that the foster children were aged 12 and 14, and that Arthurell's convictions include manslaughter and murder.

ABC reports that due to departmental inaction, a second child began living in the home on March 5. Both sources agree that Arthurell was removed only after a caller alerted radio station 2GB, which then broadcast the situation.

An internal review, initiated in March, found that established policies and procedures were not followed, and that information was accepted "at face value without adequate investigation." The report identified failures in risk identification and triage processes. According to The Guardian, two staff members have been suspended pending misconduct investigations, a fact reported by a single outlet and not yet independently confirmed.

Perspectives

The NSW Families and Communities Minister, Kate Washington, has acknowledged the failures, stating that the department had the resources to investigate and that a wrong decision was made against policies and procedures. Washington, who has faced calls for her resignation, said the suspensions are pending investigations and that the staff members' futures will be decided by the department.

ABC reports that the department's secretary, Michael Tidball, stated the review found "significant shortcomings" at the department. Both outlets convey a sense of public concern over the case, with ABC quoting Washington as saying the situation was "unacceptable."

Timeline of Events

Regina Arthurell, formerly known as Reginald Arthurell, was convicted of murder in 1995 for beating a former partner with a piece of wood. She had two prior manslaughter convictions. The department was notified on December 23 that a foster child was living with Arthurell, but the report was closed after being screened and peer-reviewed, without adequate investigation, according to the review.

A second child started living in the home on March 5. Arthurell was removed from the household after 2GB radio publicized the situation, following a listener's tip. The department's review was made public on Wednesday, and two staff members have been suspended.

The case highlights systemic issues within the child protection system, and both outlets report that the department is reviewing its procedures to prevent similar incidents.