The latest data on three areas of child protection services is
to be released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (AIHW).
Child Protection Australia 1998-99 shows that while the
number of child protection substantiations increased slightly in
some States, the total number across Australia fell slightly
compared with the previous year.
The rates of children, aged 0 to 16 years, who were the subject
of a child protection substantiation ranged from 1.1 per 1,000
children in Tasmania to 6.3 per 1,000 in Victoria. Much of this
variation reflects differences in child protection policy and
practices across States and Territories.
As at 30 June 1999, 17,811 children were on care and protection
orders in Australia. This is an increase on the number of children
on care and protection orders at 30 June 1998. Overall, 3.8 per
1,000 children were on care and protection orders in Australia at
30 June 1999.
Of the 8,487 children admitted to care and protection orders
across Australia during 1998-99, 42% were aged under 5 years, and
13% aged less than 1 year.
Report author, Helen Johnstone, said that there were 15,674
children in out-of-home care at 30 June 1999, of whom 88% were in
home-based care.
'Indigenous children were over-represented among children in
child protection substantiations, on care and protection orders and
in out-of-home care,' Ms Johnstone said.
'In Western Australia and South Australia, Indigenous children
were five times more likely than other Australian children to be
the subject of a child protection substantiation.
'And in New South Wales, Indigenous children were 8 times more
likely than other children to be on a care and protection order and
9 times more likely to be in out-of-home care.
'Many reasons have been put forward for this
over-representation. Among them are poverty, unemployment, parental
health problems, and a possible lack of adequate support services
for Indigenous families.'
18 May 2000
Further information: Helen Johnstone, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1157.
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.