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Indigenous woman dies weeks after giving birth and being evicted from public housing: ‘She was failed completely’
TL;DR
Mary Ann Miller, an Aboriginal mother of seven, died of sepsis two weeks after giving birth and being evicted from public housing. Her family claims the Western Australian government failed to provide adequate support despite knowledge of her domestic violence situation.
Key points
- Mary Ann Miller died of sepsis on 28 March.
- She was an Aboriginal mother of seven.
- Miller was evicted from public housing in February.
- Her family claims the government failed to provide support.
- She experienced domestic violence prior to her death.
Mentioned in this story
Mary Ann MillerKaye MillerWestern AustraliaGuardian Australia
The family of an Aboriginal mother of seven who died just weeks after giving birth say the Western Australian government knew she was experiencing domestic violence and fearing for her safety weeks before her death.
Mary Ann Miller died of sepsis in Fiona Stanley hospital on 28 March, two weeks after giving birth to her son and after she was allegedly assaulted and had her nose broken by her former partner. Guardian Australia is not suggesting the alleged assault contributed to her death.
The case, first reported by the National Indigenous Times, has raised questions about the support provided to women and families experiencing domestic violence within the WA housing system.
Mary Ann’s mother, Kaye Miller, told Guardian Australia she believes her only daughter was failed by government agencies who should have provided her with more support.
The Noongar woman was evicted from public housing in February.
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Department of Housing and Works said her tenancy agreement was “terminated via a Magistrates Court order, which found the tenant had not responded to requests to provide DHW staff access to conduct required annual property inspections”.
Miller had been living at the house in Merriwa since 2021. In September last year, she applied for a priority transfer to the Fremantle region. That transfer was approved and still pending; the spokesperson said all applicants on the priority waiting list have “demonstrated an urgent need for housing” and those who disclose family violence concerns “are provided advice on assistance and supported with referrals to services”.
“In consideration of her circumstances, DHW retained the tenant’s application on the priority waitlist after her eviction,” the spokesperson said.
“The decision to apply for a court-order termination does not occur often and is taken as an action of last resort.”
Kaye Miller said government agencies were aware of allegations that her daughter had been assaulted by her partner, including hitting her with a metal pole when she was pregnant, and also that they were aware the alleged abuse had caused her to feel “unsafe in her home”, leading to her moving repeatedly.
“He was beating her all the time, and the kids – they watched her be beaten all the time,” Kaye Miller said.
She added that her daughter and her extended support network were receiving support from the Department of Communities and the housing department prior to her death.
The Department of Communities declined to comment on the record in response to questions about the specific support provided to Miller; concerns about her or the children’s safety; or if it had launched a review into the circumstances of Miller’s death.
Q&A
What happened to Mary Ann Miller after her eviction from public housing?
Mary Ann Miller died of sepsis two weeks after giving birth, following her eviction from public housing.
How did domestic violence impact Mary Ann Miller's situation?
Mary Ann was reportedly experiencing domestic violence, including an assault that left her with a broken nose, which her family believes contributed to her struggles.
What support did the Western Australian government provide to Mary Ann Miller?
Mary Ann's family claims that the government agencies failed to provide adequate support despite being aware of her domestic violence situation.
What are the implications of Mary Ann Miller's death for domestic violence support in WA?
Her death has raised significant concerns about the support systems for women and families facing domestic violence within the Western Australian housing system.
