Filicide in Australia: when a parent kills their own child

There are up to 25 cases of filicide every year in Australia and while the cases can trigger outrage at the time, attention on the issue doesn't always last. That's why researchers in crime and the law enforcement sector came together at a two-day filicide conference in Melbourne.

Address the issue while the numbers are still small Source: Moment RF

Researchers in crime and the law enforcement sector came together at a two-day filicide conference in Melbourne. 

Emeritus Professor Thea Brown from Monash University attended this week's filicide conference and said that sometimes the motivation of parents taking their own children's lives doesn't make sense.

Former police detective Dr Russell Wate has been working with Victoria Police and is suggesting more communication between services is needed to understand what to do when a child death happens.

"What it does improve is that you don't miss any case and you give yourself the best chance finding out why they died and if they died criminally who is responsible."

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