A teenage girl in Perth, Western Australia, who was so emaciated that her arms were described as “wafer thin” and who risked fractures during dance classes, was allegedly kept on a strict diet by her parents and hidden from view, according to court proceedings. The girl, nearly 17 years old, weighed less than 28 kg and stood at 147 cm tall, though her father had altered her birth certificate to make her appear only 14.
The vegan, home-schooled girl lived with her parents, who controlled her social interactions, allowing her only to attend intensive dance training. When a ballet teacher expressed concerns about the girl’s weight, her mother insisted she was “completely fine,” the Western Australia District Court heard, according to the Daily Mail.
Despite child protection authorities becoming involved, the parents allegedly ignored their requests for medical assessment for four months. The parents, whose identities are protected, are now on trial, facing charges of failing in their duty of care and engaging in conduct that endangered their child’s welfare. The Department of Communities launched an investigation in late 2020 after complaints from dance teachers and other parents.
The father, instructed to take his daughter to a doctor, instead sought a GP’s letter stating she was healthy, which the GP refused to provide. When child protection workers visited their home, the father reportedly blocked them from seeing the girl.
In April 2021, the parents finally brought the girl to a GP, allegedly filling out paperwork stating she was 14, which they later claimed was an error. The father has since pleaded guilty to altering her birth certificate. At the time of the GP visit, the girl was 17, weighed 27.3 kg—the average weight of a nine-year-old—and had never menstruated despite entering puberty. The father insisted she had a “fantastic diet” and was “getting stronger” while dancing eight hours a week.
The parents claimed the girl’s diet consisted of organic fruits, minestrone soup, and ice cream. However, the GP expressed grave concern and recommended immediate emergency admission to Perth Children’s Hospital. The parents initially refused, citing grief over their pet cat’s recent death. They also declined an ECG, claiming it was “too intrusive” and allegedly laughed when warned of their daughter’s risk of cardiac arrest.
The girl was eventually admitted to the hospital on April 7, where doctors diagnosed her with grade 4 malnutrition. She received emergency treatment, including a nasogastric feeding tube and a meal plan. Hospital staff observed that the parents protested the treatment, insisting she was naturally slender due to her premature birth. They were denied permission to sleep in the ward but continued to monitor her closely, including setting a timer for her toothbrushing.
The girl was legally placed under the care of the WA Department of Communities, and her treatment was enforced. Over a 50-day hospital stay, she gained 7 kg and grew 3.4 cm. However, hospital staff noted that the parents treated her as a young child, despite assessments indicating no cognitive impairment. For her 17th birthday, they gave her a Barbie doll and attempted to arrange a Disney Princess visit.
In court, a dance teacher testified that she had raised concerns about the girl’s health two years before her hospitalization. The teacher described how the girl wore “pretty little dresses” and was surrounded by toys, with her mother waiting through every class instead of dropping her off. Photos presented in court showed the girl, aged 13, appearing much smaller than her peers.
The dance teacher expressed worry that the girl was growing “smaller and weaker” and might suffer stress fractures from jumping. Attempts to discuss her concerns with the mother were dismissed. A lawyer for the mother argued in court that she showered her child with love and provided for her needs, suggesting the girl was simply a “fussy eater.”