Two employees from the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) in New South Wales have been suspended due to a significant lapse in policy adherence that allowed two foster children to reside with a convicted serial killer. NSW Minister for Communities and Families, Kate Washington, acknowledged that a notification to the DCJ regarding the children’s living situation with Reginald Arthurell was not properly investigated. The children, aged 12 and 14, were placed in out-of-home care in Sydney’s western suburbs with Arthurell, who had previously been convicted of murdering his fiancée in 1995 while on parole.
Arthurell, known for his violent criminal history, had also committed earlier murders in the 1970s and 1980s, and he was released on parole in 2020. During an interview on 2GB’s Ben Fordham Live, Washington revealed that the department became aware of the decision to place the children with Arthurell late last year, but failed to follow up on the report, which was erroneously closed without proper verification of information regarding Arthurell’s age, physical condition, and care needs.
Washington stated that the decision to allow the children to live with Arthurell originated from a singular, unverified assessment and did not adhere to established protocols. Following further reports of a child entering Arthurell’s home last month, it was evident that previous warnings had been ignored, as a mere check of the DCJ’s system would have flagged his presence in the house.
As a consequence of these oversights, two workers responsible for the oversight have been suspended as the department initiates an investigation into misconduct. Washington maintained that the erroneous decisions were not indicative of systemic failures within the DCJ but admitted the department’s standards had fallen short in this instance. She defended the overall performance of her staff, highlighting the complexity of their roles, which often involve difficult assessments in challenging environments.
Minister Washington ensured that Arthurell is no longer associated with the children’s care and reiterated the importance of adhering to department policies to protect vulnerable children. She expressed her confidence in the dedication and work ethic of DCJ caseworkers, even amidst the difficulties they face in their daily responsibilities.