This Guardian article reports on a major inquiry into Victoria’s child protection system in Australia, which found that dozens of vulnerable children who later died had previously been assessed as “not at risk” despite repeated reports and warning signs. A review of 35 child deaths revealed that most had been the subject of multiple referrals—often involving serious concerns such as neglect, family violence, and escalating harm—but the majority of these cases were closed without investigation due to system overload and inadequate follow-up. The findings highlight how chronic underfunding, staffing shortages, and reliance on overstretched voluntary support services are contributing to systemic failures, with many children falling through the cracks. The article calls attention to urgent recommendations for reform, including better resourcing of child protection services, improved early intervention, and stronger systems to ensure at-risk children are not repeatedly overlooked.