The number of children in out-of-home care in Australia
continues to rise - by more than 3,000 children over the last three
years, according to a new report released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Child Protection Australia 2003-04 shows that the
number of children either placed with relatives, or in foster or
residential care has increased from 18,241 in 2001 to 21,795 in
June 2004. Since 1996, the number of children in care has increased
by 56%.
Report co-author, Susan Kelly from the AIHW's Children, Youth
and Families Unit, said that the increases occurred across
Australia.
'About 94% of all these children are living with relatives,
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 that the number of notifications of
suspected child abuse and neglect or harm increased from 198,355 in
2002-03 to 219,384 in 2003-04 - and has more than doubled since
1999-2000. Substantiated child protection cases (those where there
was reasonable cause to believe that harm had occurred or would
occur) also rose in all jurisdictions that provided data.
Ms Kelly said some of this increase in notifications and
substantiations reflected changes in child protection policies and
practices in the jurisdictions.
'However, it is also an indication of a higher level of
awareness of child protection concerns in the wider community and
more willingness to report problems to child protection
departments.
'Increased funding of child protection and community support
services in general, and an increase in the number of child
protection workers could also be contributing factors.'
The AIHW report also shows rises in the number of children on
care and protection orders in all of the states and territories
that provided data.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were
over-represented in the child protection system. Indigenous
children were the subject of a child protection substantiation at
up to 10 times the rate for other children. For children on care
and protection orders the Indigenous rate was 11 times the rate for
other children; and for children in out-of-home care up to 12 times
the rate.
20 January 2005
Further information: Ms Susan Kelly, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1182, or 0407 915 851 (mobile).
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Child Protection Australia
2003-04, January 2005.