Latest news with #Toowoomba-based
AU Financial Review
15 hours ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
This cattle supplements supplier wants to go global; launches raise
A Toowoomba-based manufacturer of livestock nutrient supplements that supplies some of Australia's largest cattle stations is raising capital as it seeks to expand offshore and validate its methane reduction technology. Early-stage investor Bandera Capital has put its hand up for $1 million of DIT AgTech's mooted $5 million raising, sources said This was done at a $77 million pre-money valuation, with terms for the remaining funds in front of family office and agtech investors.
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
How Bondi killer fell through the cracks
How Bondi killer Joel Cauchi fell through the cracks of the country's mental health system after managing schizophrenia for nearly 20 years before he was 'lost to follow-up' will be probed during an inquest into the fatal attack. Cauchi, 40, killed six people and stabbed another 10 during a stabbing rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction on April 13, 2024. Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia died in the incident. Cauchi was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17 and was medicated for more than a decade to treat the condition until he stopped taking all psychotropic medication in 2019. His mental health treatment is being probed over the five-week coronial inquest. Counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer SC earlier noted that most people with schizophrenia 'will never commit an act of violence'. Joel Cauchi was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17. Supplied Credit: Supplied Cauchi was treated in the public system in Toowoomba from 2001-2012 until he was transferred to the care of a private psychiatrist, known as Dr A. Cauchi saw the psychiatrist about once a month, and his dose of clozapine was gradually reduced while under his care until he stopped taking it in June 2018. The court was earlier told Cauchi was concerned about over-sedation, and the decision to stop taking clozapine was supported by a second opinion from a psychiatrist in 2015 who had treated Cauchi in the public sector. Cauchi then stopped taking abilify in 2019, meaning by June of that year he was not taking any psychotropic medications. 'In Mr Cauchi's case, his cessation of treatment unfortunately coincided thereafter with him exiting the mental health system altogether. He was effectively lost to follow-up from early 2020,' Ms Dwyer earlier told the court. She said evidence suggested Cauchi's mother, Michele, had raised concerns several times with a Toowoomba clinic about her son hearing voices and writing notes he was 'under satanic control'. Dr A gave him scripts for abilify and rexulti in November and December 2019. Bondi stabbing victims (top l-r) Dawn Singleton, Ashlee Good, Cheng Yixuan, (bottom l-r) Faraz Tahir, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia. Credit: Supplied However, Cauchi didn't take it due to side effects, and Dr A left it up to Cauchi to decide whether to take the prescribed medications. Cauchi moved to Brisbane in 2020 and unsuccessfully tried to join a Skype session with Dr A. When the clinic discovered he'd moved to Brisbane, they believed he wasn't eligible for Medicare Skype appointments or nursing support. Cauchi didn't want to attend appointments in person due to difficulties travelling, so the clinic cancelled the appointment. The court was told staff contacted him over a referral to a Brisbane GP, but he told them he didn't have one yet and would keep them posted. Dr A then discharged Cauchi into the care of his Toowoomba-based GP, which 'signified a rather sudden end to Cauchi's treatment by Dr A after what had been consistent treatment and attendance over eight years'. The five-week coronial inquest on Monday is set to hear from Dr A and two nurses from the Toowoomba clinic involved in Cauchi's care. More to come … mental health support
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How Bondi killer fell through the cracks
How Bondi killer Joel Cauchi fell through the cracks of the country's mental health system after managing schizophrenia for nearly 20 years before he was 'lost to follow-up' will be probed during an inquest into the fatal attack. Cauchi, 40, killed six people and stabbed another 10 during a stabbing rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction on April 13, 2024. Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia died in the incident. Cauchi was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17 and was medicated for more than a decade to treat the condition until he stopped taking all psychotropic medication in 2019. His mental health treatment is being probed over the five-week coronial inquest. Counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer SC earlier noted that most people with schizophrenia 'will never commit an act of violence'. Cauchi was treated in the public system in Toowoomba from 2001-2012 until he was transferred to the care of a private psychiatrist, known as Dr A. Cauchi saw the psychiatrist about once a month, and his dose of clozapine was gradually reduced while under his care until he stopped taking it in June 2018. The court was earlier told Cauchi was concerned about over-sedation, and the decision to stop taking clozapine was supported by a second opinion from a psychiatrist in 2015 who had treated Cauchi in the public sector. Cauchi then stopped taking abilify in 2019, meaning by June of that year he was not taking any psychotropic medications. 'In Mr Cauchi's case, his cessation of treatment unfortunately coincided thereafter with him exiting the mental health system altogether. He was effectively lost to follow-up from early 2020,' Ms Dwyer earlier told the court. She said evidence suggested Cauchi's mother, Michele, had raised concerns several times with a Toowoomba clinic about her son hearing voices and writing notes he was 'under satanic control'. Dr A gave him scripts for abilify and rexulti in November and December 2019. However, Cauchi didn't take it due to side effects, and Dr A left it up to Cauchi to decide whether to take the prescribed medications. Cauchi moved to Brisbane in 2020 and unsuccessfully tried to join a Skype session with Dr A. When the clinic discovered he'd moved to Brisbane, they believed he wasn't eligible for Medicare Skype appointments or nursing support. Cauchi didn't want to attend appointments in person due to difficulties travelling, so the clinic cancelled the appointment. The court was told staff contacted him over a referral to a Brisbane GP, but he told them he didn't have one yet and would keep them posted. Dr A then discharged Cauchi into the care of his Toowoomba-based GP, which 'signified a rather sudden end to Cauchi's treatment by Dr A after what had been consistent treatment and attendance over eight years'. The five-week coronial inquest on Monday is set to hear from Dr A and two nurses from the Toowoomba clinic involved in Cauchi's care. More to come … Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 Headspace on 1800 650 890 SANE on 1800 18 7263
The Guardian
26-02-2025
- The Guardian
Elizabeth Struhs death: father jailed for 14.5 years as sect faces sentencing for eight-year-old's manslaughter
The father of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs has been sentenced to 14.5 years in prison, of which he must serve a minimum of 80%, for the death of his eight-year-old type 1 diabetic daughter by denying her life-saving insulin. Jason Struhs was the first of 14 members of Toowoomba-based religious sect the Saints to learn his fate at a sentencing hearing in the Queensland supreme court on Wednesday, after they were found guilty of manslaughter over Elizabeth's January 2022 death by diabetic ketoacidosis. Jason Struhs and the Saints' leader, Brendan Stevens, were convicted of manslaughter alongside the 12 other sect members after being found not guilty of murder by reckless indifference in last year's judge-only trial. 'You allowed your faith to blind you to her real plight,' Justice Martin Burns said to the sect members prior to delivering their sentences. 'Elizabeth suffered a slow and painful death and you are all in one way or another responsible.' Addressing Jason Struhs, Burns said: 'You put your own personal beliefs ahead of your duty and then staked the life of your eight-year-old child on it.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The faith group, which was likened to a cult in court, does not believe in medicine - which some members have described as 'witchcraft'. Instead of administering insulin, they prayed and sang for Elizabeth's miraculous healing as she lay dying over a four-day period at a house in Rangeville, Toowoomba. Mother Kerrie and father Jason Struhs had previously been convicted of failing to provide the necessities of life for Elizabeth after an in incident 2019. In that year, Elizabeth, who had yet to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, became seriously ill over a period of about six days. When she was eventually taken to hospital by father Jason she was described in court as on the verge of death, and fell into a coma. Kerrie was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison, but served only five. Jason was given a six-month suspended sentence, reduced partly because he testified against his wife. Jason then spent years helping treat Elizabeth's incurable illness before being convinced to convert to the Saints faith, and then to end the use of insulin to treat his daughter's diabetes, in 2021. The 14 defendants were not represented by counsel during the trial or sentencing. They refused to defend themselves against their charges, which they described as 'religious persecution'. They also refused to enter pleas. Justice Martin Burns ordered that pleas of not guilty be entered on their behalf, pursuant to Queensland law. The 14 guilty sect members are: Jason Struhs, 53, Brendan Stevens, 63, Kerrie Struhs, 49, Zachary Struhs, 22, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, Samantha Emily Crouch, 26, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26. More details soon …
