The Annual Report: Deaths of children and young people, Queensland,2014–15is the eleventhin the series with information from the Queensland Child Death Register.

The deaths of 445 children and young people were registered in 2014–15, representing a rate of 40.2 deaths per 100,000 population aged 0–17 years.

Over the 11 year period of data collection there have been some year to year fluctuations in child death rates, however there has been a general reduction in recent years.

QFCC cautions thatyear to year changes may not be indicative of particular trends due to the small numbers involved, especially for external causes.

Report findings include:

•Diseases and morbid conditions accounted for 69.4% of deaths (309 deaths), while deaths from external (non-natural) causes accounted for 90 deaths (20.2%).

  • Suicide was the leading external cause of death overall with 28 deaths.
  • Transport incidents were the second leading external cause of child deaths overall with 25 deaths.
  • Suicide replaced transport as the leading external cause of death for the first time inthe 11 years of the register, with suicide deaths in 2014–15 recorded as an 11 year high while transport had a record low.
  • 16 children drowned in 2014–15. Ten children who drowned were aged 1–4 years and, of these, five drowned in private pools and five drowned in rural water hazards.
  • 14 children died of fatal assault and neglect, an 11 year high. This number is due, in part, to a single incident involving multiple fatalities. Nine children were victims of domestic homicide, 4 deaths were fatal child abuse and one death was due to neonaticide.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children accounted for 16.4% of all child deaths. Indigenous children are over-represented in infant deaths from diseases and morbid conditions, suicide deaths and sudden unexpected deaths in infancy.

Fifteen of the 28 young people who died as a result of suicide were known to the child protection system. Three of the 14 children who died due to fatal assault or neglect were known to the child protection system.

Leading causes of death by age group are as follows:

  • For infants under 1 year– diseases and morbid conditions (245 deaths). Most of these occurred in the first weeks and months of life.
  • For 1–4 year olds – diseases and morbid conditions (20 deaths) followed by drowning (10 deaths).
  • For 5–9 year olds– diseases and morbid conditions (16 deaths). Drowning and fatal assault and neglect were equal second (5 deaths each).
  • For 10–14 year olds– diseases and morbid conditions (11 deaths) followed by suicide (4 deaths).
  • For 15–17 year olds – suicide (24 deaths) followed by diseases and morbid conditions (17 deaths). Transport incidents (9 deaths)is the lowest recorded since 2004.

Important messages about preventionfor the community:

•Access antenatal care and follow medical advice during pregnancy.

•Use child restraints and seatbelts. Don't drink and drive.Don't drive through floodwaters.

•Don’t walk away from infants in the bath or shower. Don’t rely on siblings to supervise.

•Maintain compliant pool fencing and be diligent about closing gates. Learn resuscitation.

•Provide appropriate supervision for young children especially near pools, dams or creeks.

•On rural properties or acreage, teach children about dangers and 'no go' areas. Provide a safe play area or barriers when hazardsare nearby.

•Be especially vigilant of nearby hazards in the first months in a new property.

•Provide young people with the space to develop but be alert to signs of distress or instability.

•Seek help if family violence is occurring.

•If you are aware of a family in trouble – see what you can do to help or direct them to services.

Detailed child death data are available at no cost to support prevention research, policy or program initiatives by emailing

View the full Report online at