Jack's mother thought he was being looked after. He died desperate and alone

The Age

06-05-2025

A spokesperson from Pathfinders said the organisation couldn't comment about specific clients. Children enrolled in the program received a 'structured, fully supervised 24/7 routine that includes education and pursuit of a young person's individual interests', and remained DCJ's responsibility.
The spokesperson was unaware of any report from a child protection officer, and protocol was to call an ambulance and notify DCJ in case of a medical emergency.
Neither DCJ nor Pathfinders responded to questions about Jack being found unresponsive.
On his return to the central-west, Jack's care was outsourced to the multimillion-dollar social services charity Life Without Barriers.
Other children stole his belongings there, and he was again not enrolled in school. National Disability Insurance Paperwork was never lodged.
'They wouldn't let him be a child,' Renee said.
In 2022, the company's CEO, Claire Robbs, apologised after the Disability Royal Commission found the organisation had failed to prevent violence and abuse against residents in its group disability homes.
In 2023-24, Life Without Barriers made $845 million in revenue and other income. According to financial documents, just $93 million was spent on service delivery costs. According to job advertisements, youth workers are paid $36 per hour and can be TAFE students with relevant work experience.
Life Without Barriers declined to comment for this article.
'I'm not burying another child'
When Jack moved in with Mick in late 2022, away from outsourced care, he started finding his feet. He began an apprenticeship and got a part-time job.
Child protection caseworkers' assessments found his mother's former partner was 'totally dedicated to meeting all of Jack's needs,' noting the pair had a 'close bond'.
Mick was assessed as a suitable permanent placement option for Jack.
Mick quit his job, sold shares in his businesses for cash, and completed multiple parenting and child psychology courses while waiting to be approved as a specialist carer and permanent placement option for Jack, who required 24/7 care. However, payments he said Life Without Barriers and DCJ promised never arrived.
Life Without Barriers denied ever making the promise but paid Mick a lump sum in January 2024 to recognise the 'unacceptable delay' in completing his assessment.
One delay included a change made by DCJ to Jack's assessment needs, rendering Mick's application ineligible, only to reverse the decision months later.
I'm not burying another child … Jack would have kept trying to kill himself without proper help.
Mick
Mick said the struggle of getting Jack regular funding support led to a deterioration in his mental health. Just days after Life Without Barriers acknowledged their failures, Jack attempted to take his life at Mick's home.
Loading
Mick, who found Jack after the attempt and called an ambulance, said he couldn't do it any more. Several years earlier, he had lost a son of his own in a car accident.
'I said, 'I'm not burying another child, '' Mick said. 'Jack would have kept trying to kill himself without proper help.'
'We'll be burying him within months'
After more stints in motels and temporary accommodation, Jack moved into an apartment in Orange rented by Life Without Barriers, where he lived alone.
Mick objected to Jack living in an apartment: 'I said if you move him into a home by himself, we'll be burying him within months,' Mick said. Renee wanted him at home.
With minimal supervision, no school, TAFE, or structure, Jack spent his time on trains and on the street, sometimes staying with a friend in Sydney.
[DCJ] are acting like my son had to die for them to learn a lesson.
Renee
The friend's mother, who spoke anonymously to protect her son, said Jack frequently arrived at her doorstep early in the morning from Orange. She suspected he spent the night at train stations. She said his clothes were often dirty, he didn't travel with a toothbrush, and he was living off credits for fast-food restaurants.
'DCJ and Life Without Barriers were enabling him,' she said.
A body in the mountains
Loading
On his 18th birthday, Jack travelled to Hanging Rock in the Blue Mountains. He sent videos to friends of himself sitting on the rock face playing music. He appeared to be alone.
He died the day after that birthday, on October 31. Police discovered his body several days later. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
A DCJ staff member not authorised to speak to the media questioned whether anyone from Life Without Barriers or DCJ had discussed that supports remained in place for children in the state's care after their 18th birthday or whether staff planned to celebrate Jack's milestone.
Jack was farewelled at a ceremony attended by more than 100 friends and family who spoke of his loyalty, adventurousness and strong protective instincts.
He is buried in the Orange cemetery. His grave, adorned with flowers, angel statues and a rubber chicken, reads 'Forever 18.'
No coronial inquest has been announced into Jack's death to understand the failures that may have caused it.
Mick said DCJ never contacted him after Jack's death.
Renee said she has been told DCJ will review the case, but she won't be privy to the details and was told it won't lead to disciplinary action.
'They're acting like my son had to die for them to learn a lesson,' she said.
Washington said: 'It is highly premature for a DCJ staff member to tell a grieving mother that there would be no disciplinary action while the department is still conducting an internal review of Jack's tragic death, and I apologise for the understandable distress this caused.
'The Minns Labor Government is undertaking significant reforms to the child protection system, focused on improving safety, lifting accountability, and providing stability for the vulnerable children and young people,' the minister for families and communities said.
Renee visits Jack's grave daily.