Child protection in Australia
Child protection is aimed at ensuring that children are safe and well. State and territory governments are responsible for the enforcement of the relevant legislation in Australia. Each state and territory child protection agency provides assistance to vulnerable children who are suspected of being abused, neglected or harmed, or whose parents are unable to provide adequate care or protection.
Each state and territory has different legislation, policies and practices surrounding statutory child protection, but the overall processes are similar. Departments receive notifications or child concern reports that they investigate for sufficient evidence that a child has been, is being, or is likely to be, abused and/or neglected. If the evidence is sufficient the notification is 'substantiated'. If a child is the subject of a substantiated notification, there are a range of actions the department may take. These can include placing the child on a care and protection order or placing the child into out-of-home care.
For more information on the processes of child protection across Australia refer to the latest Child protection Australia report.
Child protection quick facts 2010–11
Notifications
Over 160,000 children were the subject of a notification about suspected abuse or neglect (just over 3%, or approximately 1 in 31 children)
Investigations
Notifications are investigated by the state and territory departments responsible for child protection. Most notifications (83%) were not substantiated, however 17% cases were (meaning that sufficient evidence has been found that the child has been, is being or is likely to be abused and/or neglected).
Substantiations
In 2010–11 there were about 31,500 children in substantiated abuse or neglect cases. This was around 1 in 165 children aged 0–17 years.
Emotional abuse was most the common substantiated abuse type, followed by neglect and physical abuse. Sexual abuse was more common among girls; other types of abuse were slightly more common among boys.
Care and protection orders
Across Australia, about 39,000 children and young people were on a care and protection order at 30 June 2011. While a large proportion of orders were relatively short (less than 12 months), almost one quarter of those discharged from orders in 2010–11 had spent between 2 and 4 years on that order, and more than 1 in 10 had spent over eight years.
Out-of-home care
Nationally, just over 37,500 children were in out-of-home care at 30 June 2011. Over the last few years the rate per 1,000 children in out-of-home care has increased nationally (from about 28,500 at 30 June 2007). This increase is mainly the result of the cumulative impact of children who remain in care for extended periods.
In contrast to these overall increases, annual admissions to and discharges from out-of-home care are showing opposing trends. Over the past 5 years, more children are being released from care annually, and relatively fewer admitted.
Indigenous children
Indigenous children are over-represented across the child protection system compared with non-Indigenous children. In 2010–11, Indigenous children were:
- 8 times as likely to be the subject of substantiated abuse or neglect
- 9 times as likely to be on a care and protection order
- 10 times as likely to be in out-of-home care.
Collecting national data on child protection
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare collaborates with states and territories to manage the national child protection data collection. This collection is drawn from the state and territory administrative data sets. It is reviewed annually to improve data quality and comparability.
The national collection provides comprehensive statistical information on state and territory child protection and support services, and some of the characteristics of the children within these systems. States and territories provide annual aggregate data for six national child protection sub-collections:
- Notifications, investigations and substantiations
- Care and protection orders
- Out-of-home care
- Foster carers
- Relative/kinship carers, and
- Intensive family support services.
Further details including collection specific information and statistics are available in the latest Child protection Australia report.
How do I report a child protection matter?
If you wish to report a child protection matter, contact the agency in your state or territory directly:
New South Wales
Family & Community Services
Tel. 132 111
www.community.nsw.gov.au/
Victoria
Department of Human Services
Tel. 13 1278 (after hours emergency)
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/crisis-and-emergency/reporting-child-abuse
Queensland
Department of Communities Child Safety Services
Tel. (07) 3235 9999 or 1800 177 135
http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/childsafety/protecting-children/reporting-child-abuse
Western Australia
Department for Child Protection
Tel. 1800 622 258
a/h: (08) 9223 1111 or 1800 199 008
http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Organisation/contactUs/Pages/ContactUs.aspx
South Australia
Department for Communities and Social Inclusion
Tel. 131 478
http://www.dcsi.sa.gov.au/pub/default.aspx?tabid=249
Tasmania
Department of Health and Human Services
Tel. 1800 135 513
http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/contact
Northern Territory
Department of Health
Tel. 1800 700 250
www.health.nt.gov.au/
Australian Capital Territory
Community Services
Tel. 1300 556 729
http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfs