A report released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare provides a profile of children who attended Supported
Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP) agencies with people
who were homeless or at risk of being homeless.
The report, Accompanying Children (special collection),
describes approximately 8000 visits by children accompanying adults
to over half of the 1103 SAAP agencies, or just over two thirds of
all agencies who supported children during the six-week survey
period.
It shows that 19% of accompanying children were homeless for the
month prior to SAAP support and approximately 2% of all
accompanying children had not had a home at all in the previous 12
months.
Around 60% had lived in two or more homes in the year prior to
attending the agency. In metropolitan areas 40% had moved three
times or more.
The report also shows most of the accompanying children were
involved in a legal process of some sort when they came to the
agency and 68% were subject to protection or guardianship
orders.
Report co-author Gloria Jackson said that a large variety of
social, relationship and health issues were either experienced or
witnessed by the children
'For example, nationally, 67% witnessed domestic violence, and
around 16% of the children had experienced physical abuse.
Emotional abuse or neglect, crisis, trauma, grief, and behavioural
problems were an issue in around one-third of all cases.'
'The most common health complaint was anxiety, which was a
factor in around one-quarter of the children. Another leading
health-related issue for about one-fifth of the children was
substance abuse of the parent.'
The report also found that 18% of accompanying children were
involved in immigration issues. This was particularly noticeable
with children accompanying women escaping domestic violence.
More than half of all accompanying children supported by SAAP
were under six years of age, and were most likely to come from
one-child families (50%) and single parent families (54%).
Support services provided by agencies ranged from supported
accommodation, transport, advocacy, advice, information and
education to child care, financial assistance, medical services,
counselling, and provision of anger management and social
skills.
Over 90% of the children's needs were met by or through SAAP
agencies.
6 October 2000
Further information: Gloria Jackson, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1072. Justin Griffin, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1206
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability