Inquest hears NDIS provider delayed suicide threat reports before teen's death

Quinn Cook died by suicide in 2023. (Supplied: Instagram) An NDIS provider has admitted it "could have done more" to safeguard a teenager in the years before he took his own life, a court has heard. Gold Coast 16-year-old Quinn Cook died by suicide in January 2023. An inquest is examining the boy's care and accommodation prior to his death. Link copiedShareShare articleA provider with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has admitted it delayed reporting multiple suicide threats made by a teenager who later took his own life, an inquest has heard. Logan 16-year-old Quinn Cook died by suicide in January 2023 while under the care of support workers employed by My Gold Coast Care Group (MGCCG). An inquest in Southport this week is examining whether any faults in the boy's care or accommodation caused or contributed to his death. This includes any decisions made by his carers, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) or the Queensland Department of Child Safety. The court heard Mr Cook had a complex medical history that included autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and type one diabetes. Mr Cook went to hospital several times through his teen years for suicidal ideation, emotional dysregulation and aggressive outbursts, the coroner heard. Quinn Cook was 16 years old when he died. (Supplied: Instagram) Two years before his death, he moved into a Surfers Paradise apartment after issues with his behaviour meant he could no longer stay with his mother in Logan. The apartment was personally rented by MGCCG chief executive Marcia De Menezes, who was known to the family. The coroner heard this was not NDIS-funded or specialised accommodation, but a support worker from Ms De Menezes's business was arranged to be in the apartment 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While living in the apartment, the inquest heard, Mr Cook made a string of suicide threats to his carers. Ms De Menezes conceded she did not report Mr Cook's repeated suicide threats to the NDIA or the Department of Child Safety immediately following the incidents. She disagreed with suggestions by the counsel assisting the coroner, Bernhard Berger, that she failed to properly respond to Mr Cook's suicide risks. However, she admitted she "could have done more". "We were not aware how important it was to actually send those incident reports to NDIS," she said. "I thought we were doing the best we could." Marcia De Menezes rented a Surfers Paradise apartment for Quinn Cook. (ABC Gold Coast: Charmayne Allison) Ms De Menezes told the court she became "overwhelmed" by Mr Cook's complex support needs. She said the teen made "constant" threats of self-harm, which made them harder to believe. "Is your evidence that you did not take a child's threats of suicide seriously?" barrister for the NDIA Kate Slack asked. Ms De Menezes disagreed, saying she had worked hard to provide support to Mr Cook, despite significant challenges. The court heard earlier this year, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission wrote to Ms De Menezes warning it may revoke her company's registration. However, Ms De Menezes said she was challenging the notice, saying her company was doing all it could to "become a better provider", including improving its reporting processes. The coroner heard a final decision on Ms De Menezes's registration was yet to be made. The inquest began in Southport on Tuesday. (ABC News: Kimberley Bernard) The inquest has heard Mr Cook's NDIS plans funded core supports and capacity building supports, but did not fund 24/7 NDIS-supported accommodation. Ms De Menezes told the inquest she was not aware she could have challenged the NDIA's funding decisions in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The court heard soon after moving into the Surfers Paradise apartment in February 2021, Mr Cook's annual NDIS allocation was spent, with his around-the-clock care costing nearly $100,000 in just three months. "Did you deliberately spend the budget in such a way so the NDIS would be forced to uplift [its allocation]?" Mr Berger asked. Ms De Menezes denied improper spending and said her business would have continued to pay for the care without further funding. "That level of care would cost upward of $400,000, it didn't matter if we got an extra $50, I was still out of pocket," she said. Ms De Menezes said despite her belief an apartment building was inappropriate, no houses were available at the time. She said at times, a second carer would be required for Mr Cook, and at times she would fill the role herself. "We were more concerned he would hurt somebody than that he would hurt himself," she said. The inquest heard yesterday from four of Mr Cook’s support workers, who said they had little training to address his complex needs. They also told the court they were concerned about Mr Cook’s lack of activities and social interaction. The inquest has been adjourned to a later date for written submissions. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly

Inquest hears NDIS provider delayed suicide threat reports before teen's death

Key takeaways

More in international