Government departments missed opportunities that could have changed the trajectory for Kumanjayi Walker and his family, an inquest into the Indigenous teenager’s death has been told. 

Gabrielle Brown, executive director of family services at Territory Families, Housing and Communities, raised poor communication across departments and failures to pick up on early behavioural signs as key mistakes that may have impacted Mr Walker’s life.

Ms Brown said in reviewing his file, “there was likely very clear missed opportunities to try and change the trajectory for Kumanjayi”.

She said picking up on these earlier “would have provided a greater support to the family to understand what was going on, and how best to raise Kumanjayi and what services or support was needed”.

Ms Brown said in retrospect, she questioned why Mr Walker had only been assessed for cognitive impairment at 17, despite the Department of Education flagging patterns of behavioural issues as young as six years old.

Ms Brown said the assessment, conducted by a forensic psychologist, was the first that really looked at some of the drivers behind Mr Walker’s behaviour. 

The psychologist found Mr Walker had mild to moderate intellectual impairment, and indicated the need for co-ordinated assistance across youth justice, corrections and education. 

“I’m not saying diagnosis is the be all and end all,” Ms Brown told the inquest on Thursday. 

“But there is enough information to say there were opportunities to try and quantify or understand … what may be driving some of the behaviours and why the challenges for the family were so great.” 

Coroner Elisabeth Armitage asked Ms Brown if siloing still occurred in the government and if steps were being taken to address it. 

“There is absolutely a concerted effort in joining up how we operate, and how we think and how we share information,” said Ms Brown.

“So yes, I accept the feedback and I can only provide that we’re trying to do something about it.”

Mr Walker was fatally shot by Constable Zachary Rolfe during a bungled outback arrest in Yuendumu, northwest of Alice Springs, in November 2019.

The Alice Springs inquest was established in early September 2022 to examine the wider circumstances surrounding the 19-year-old Warlpiri man’s shooting.

The inquest continues, with more Territory Families staff expected to give evidence. 

By Annette Lin in Darwin