William Charles Heddergott

William, an NDIS participant, was murdered by his mother. Before his death, an NDIS support worker had recognised concerning, controlling and abusive behaviour towards William and attempted to work out where it could be reported — but the disability system was poorly integrated with Victoria’s family violence risk and information-sharing frameworks.

The coroner did not find that the NDIS provider’s shortcomings caused or contributed to William’s death. Instead, the case exposes a structural safeguarding gap: the coroner recommended work to bring the NDIA and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission into Victoria’s family violence information-sharing framework (MARAM), as well as broader adult safeguarding reform.