The Northern Territory Coroner, Elisabeth Armitage, has determined that the death of a six-week-old Aboriginal infant was a result of an unsafe sleeping situation following the eviction of her mother from crisis accommodation in Alice Springs two years ago.
Judge Armitage revealed that the mother was compelled to sleep with her baby on a mattress on the floor of a residence shared with eight other individuals, three of whom had a history of violent behavior towards her.
In her findings, Judge Armitage urged the Northern Territory government to “identify, quantify and map the level of homelessness experienced by expectant and new mothers” across the region.
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A coroner’s investigation found that a mother of a newborn who died in an unsafe sleeping environment due to overcrowded housing in Alice Springs was effectively homeless after being evicted from crisis accommodation just six days prior to the incident.
The six-week-old Aboriginal girl, whose name has not been disclosed, passed away from a condition referred to as sudden unexpected death of an infant (SUDI) in September 2024. This condition is different from the more commonly recognized sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is diagnosed only when a baby’s death cannot be attributed to the sleeping environment.
In her report, which was released without a formal inquest, Coroner Armitage noted that the mother, aged 21 and also unnamed, was recognized as a caring parent who was attentive to her child’s needs. Despite being “well known to various agencies,” she was evicted into a situation that left her “effectively homeless,” without a secure sleeping arrangement for her infant, forcing them to share a mattress on the floor of a relative’s living room.
Judge Armitage recounted that after becoming pregnant in January, the mother suffered assaults from her brother and sister-in-law, where she was physically harmed. Following the birth of her child on August 10, she was discharged from the hospital after a nurse noted on a form that she had received education about parenting, which Judge Armitage identified as the only documented instance of safe sleeping information provided to her, despite her engagement with multiple support services.
Reports indicated that by the end of August, the mother had violated curfew and other regulations at the crisis accommodation where she had been placed and was given a two-week ultimatum to find alternative housing. Left with no options, she had to stay with her sister-in-law, who had previously assaulted her, alongside her father—a person identified as dangerous and who had also assaulted her in the past—along with another adult and five children.
Judge Armitage pointed out that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) must have been aware that, despite the mother’s attentiveness, her capacity to keep her infant safe was compromised due to her lack of a secure living situation. She emphasized that the department was aware of the mother’s vulnerability and complex trauma history and that she was being discharged from a supportive environment into homelessness with a newborn.
On the morning of September 22, the mother discovered her baby unresponsive, cold, and with blood coming from her mouth. Emergency services were summoned, but the infant could not be revived and was pronounced dead within an hour.
Judge Armitage remarked that the department should not have ignored the mother’s circumstances and the associated sleeping dangers for the infant. “To be clear, child removal is not an answer to homelessness,” she stated, highlighting that the young mother was caring and protective of her child. She affirmed that addressing their shared homelessness was crucial for the infant’s safety.
In response to a preliminary draft of the findings, the department acknowledged that “consideration of financial support for the infant and her mother should have been made” to assist in securing safe housing. They noted that there was discretion for the DCF to finance temporary accommodation for the mother and child until a more suitable arrangement could be established.
As of July 1, 2025, there has been an increase in investment in homelessness services through the National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness, providing a more robust support system for young people, young parents, and families.
The infant’s death marked the eighth SUDI case examined by the Northern Territory coroner’s office within the year. Judge Armitage conducted inquests into three baby deaths in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek earlier in April. The Northern Territory holds the highest infant mortality rate in Australia, recorded at 6.53 deaths per 1,000 live births, nearly double the national average of 3.27.
Moreover, the infant mortality rate is significantly higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants in the Northern Territory, standing at 13.3 deaths for every 1,000 live births, as noted by Judge Armitage.
In her latest report, Judge Armitage reiterated her previous recommendations for providing culturally sensitive education on safe sleeping practices and urged services to take appropriate measures to identify infants at risk of SUDI.
She also called upon the NT government to “identify, quantify and map the level of homelessness experienced by expectant and new mothers” to better address these critical issues.
