The number of children in out-of-home care in Australia has
risen by almost 3000 over the last four years, according to a new
report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (AIHW).
Child Protection Australia 1999-00 shows that the
number of children either placed with relatives, or in foster or
residential care has increased by 21%-from 13,979 in 1996 to 16,923
in June 2000.
Co-author of the report, Ms Helen Johnstone, said that this
increase was consistent across all States and Territories.
'There's a wide range of complex reasons for this increase,
which could include unemployment and increased pressures placed on
families,' Ms Johnstone said.
'About 90% of all these children are living with relatives, or
foster carers or in some other home-based arrangement-rather than
in facilities such as family group homes or residential care.'
The report also shows a decline in the overall number of child
protection substantiations in the last six years, from a peak of
30,466 in 1994-95 to 24,732 in 1999-00. 'Much of this decline is
attributable to the changes that States and Territories have made
to the way that they deal with child protection matters, Ms
Johnstone said.
The rates of children, aged 0 to 16 years, who were the subject
of a child protection substantiation ranged from 0.7 per 1,000
children in Tasmania to 6.3 per 1,000 in Victoria. This variation
reflects different child protection policies and practices across
the States and Territories.
Overall, Indigenous children were over-represented in the child
protection system.
In Western Australia and South Australia, Indigenous children
were more than seven times more likely than other Australian
children to be the subject of a child protection
substantiation.
'And in New South Wales, Indigenous children were more than 9
times more likely than other children to be in out-of-home care,'
Ms Johnstone said.
'Many reasons have been put forward for this
over-representation, including unemployment and poverty.'
10 May 2001
Media inquiries: Ms Helen Johnstone, AIHW, 02
6244 1157, or
0419 296 053 (mobile)
Media copies of report: Publications Officer, AIHW tel.
02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.