Unanswered questions a year after suspected murder-suicide of mother and daughter

A highly anticipated education department probe into eight-year-old Clementine Wilkes's declining school attendance in the years before she was killed in a suspected murder-suicide has been completed, resulting in "appropriate action".

The Queensland department has introduced mechanisms to improve the monitoring of children who move from state schooling to home schooling, but has declined to elaborate further on action taken while a coronial investigation continues into Clementine’s death alongside her mother, anaesthetist Tiffany Wilkes, who allegedly took her own life.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek launched the review into protections for children who attend school infrequently, and those who are homeschooled, following the deaths which occurred a year ago next week.

Dr Wilkes, 54, allegedly killed Clementine, then took her own life at a luxury Brisbane Airbnb, backing onto Mt Coot-tha Forest, on September 29 last year. Tiffany Wilkes was still employed part-time by Queensland Health as a staff specialist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital at the time of her death.

"An internal review informs system improvements where necessary and is not published externally," a department spokesperson said. "As the coronial investigation remains open and ongoing, it would be inappropriate for the department to comment further at this time."

Questions remain about why Clementine, nicknamed Clemmie, was never identified as a child at risk, given she had been withdrawn from mainstream schooling. Clementine, described as an excellent student, had started missing days at Norman Park State School in 2024 before being taken out of mainstream education altogether in 2025.

The Queensland Department of Education conducted an internal investigation into the case.

An investigation has revealed the extreme social isolation Dr Wilkes, a single mother, and Clementine were experiencing before their deaths. Dr Wilkes and Clementine appear to have become nomadic in the lead-up to the tragedy. Their luxury car was found parked near the Airbnb where they died with children's toys, clothes, and wipes inside.

At the time of her death, Dr Wilkes was still employed part-time by Queensland Health as a staff specialist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. But she had not worked at the hospital for about 18 months because of mental health issues.

Luke Twyford, chief executive of the Queensland Family and Child Commission, said the suspected murder-suicide is one of several similar tragedies across Queensland in recent years. "Every child who dies is a reminder that we need stronger prevention, earlier support for families under significant stress, and coordinated responses that keep children at the centre of decision-making," Mr Twyford said.