Family of girl who died of suspected overdose in state care demands answers

The number of deaths of children known to child safety services have gone up almost 60 per cent in one year. ( ABC News: Peter Gunders )

The parents of a girl who died in state care say they were not contacted by child safety until several days after her death.

Police told the parents she died of a suspected overdose, but they have not received a written explanation from the department.

Deaths of children known to Queensland's child safety department have increased nearly 60 per cent in a year.

The grieving family of a teenager who died in state care is demanding answers into what they believe was a preventable tragedy.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified under Queensland law, was found dead in an Ipswich residential care home on September 12, at about 10:30am.

Her parents told the ABC that police informed them their daughter died of a suspected overdose, but they are yet to receive a written explanation from the Department of Child Safety.

They want to know why she was not checked on earlier that morning, and how she was able to access drugs while in the department's care.

Copyright for this text belongs to ABC Australia.