WARNING: This article discusses themes of depression and suicide.
Makalie Watts-Owens was a proud Tagalaka Worimi Kukatj woman with a passion for justice.
Having completed a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne, Makalie was continuing her studies in law and had begun pursuing a career at the Office of Public Prosecutions in Victoria.
“Makalie was a very passionate young woman,” said Makalie’s mother, Sharon Watts.
“She had a real kind, beautiful soul and would help anyone.”
But the much-loved young woman also faced her share of struggles.
Makalie admitted herself to St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne last week, disclosing suicidal thoughts to staff.
Tragically, she took her own life while admitted.
Ms Watts says the hospital failed in their duty of care to her daughter.
“She went to an Aboriginal organisation and she got a referral, then she went to St Vincent’s psychiatric ward to get help,” said Ms Watts.
'She could've been saved'
Ms Watts said St Vincent’s staff placed Makalie in a room shortly after she arrived on Thursday 15 February, and asked her if she was ‘ok’ before leaving her alone.
“They put her in a room and left her there,” Ms Watts told NITV.
Ms Watts said the staff did not adequately supervise or care for Makalie in the short time she was at the hospital.
Ms Watts said after staff discovered Makalie, they attempted to resuscitate her but it was too late.
She said if there had been more frequent check ins, her daughter would still be here.
“If she had 10 minute interval checks, this would never have happened, she would have been saved,” she said.
Ms Watts also said the doctor she spoke to at the hospital told her if Makalie had been found within 20 minutes she would be alive.
“But because they didn’t get to her for 40 minutes her brain had died,” she said.
Ms Watts and her family are devastated as they now plan a funeral and raise funds to transport Makalie’s body back home to Adelaide.
“My girls, their dad, and our family, we are broken because she could’ve been saved,” she said.
“They failed to check on a 24-year-old Aboriginal girl who felt suicidal. They failed my girl.”
Outpouring of support shows community's grief
One of Makalie's closest friends, Miriama Teah Pearce-Wikatene, remembers her friend as someone who never wanted to burden anyone and was always there for other people.
"She would always be there for you and try and do the best with what she could do," said Pearce-Wikatene.
Pearce-Wikatene shared Makalie's aspirations for the future and said she found goals for the year written in a planner.
"She wanted to be a lawyer and work in child protection and the family law system and enact some sort of change," she said.
"She had goals for 2024. She wanted to graduate in the middle of this year."
Pearce-Wikatene said it was clear her friend wanted to live.
"She wouldn't have admitted herself into the hospital if she didn't want to live," she said.
"She was doing everything right and they still failed her."
Pearce-Wikatene started a GoFundMe page for Makalie's family.
The community Makalie became a part of in Melbourne has now rallied around her family – a testament to how loved she was – with just over $20,000 raised and her favourite cafe (Assembly in Carlton) opening next Sunday, the 3rd of March, especially to raise money for the family.
Ms Watts said she wanted to share her daughter's story because she doesn’t want Aboriginal people left without proper care when they are seeking help as her daughter was.
“If they were checking on her every 10 minutes, knowing the suicidal rates of Aboriginal people are so high, then she would be here today, she would be standing here and I would be laughing with her and doing all the things I would be doing with her like I do,” said Ms Watts.
“But no, my girl’s gone, nothing is going to bring her back, but I want justice because I don’t want anyone else to go through this again, because she was calling out for help.”
In a statement, a spokesperson from St Vincent's Hospital said "St Vincent’s offers its sincere and deep condolences to the family and loved ones following the tragic passing of a First Nations woman in our services on Monday 19 February."
"St Vincent's has reported the matter to the relevant authorities, including the Victorian Coroner, and is unable to make further comment while investigations are ongoing."
