The number of Australian children on care and protection orders,
in out-of-home care and who are subject to a notification of child
abuse or neglect, has increased since 2008 according to a report
released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
(AIHW).
'Over the past year, the number of children on care and
protection orders and the number of children in out-of-home care
increased by almost 10%,' said Kate Valentine of the Institute's
Child and Youth Welfare Unit
In 2008 there were almost 35,500 children on a care and
protection order and just over 34,000 children in out-of-home care,
the majority of whom were either in foster care (47%) or living
with relatives (45%).
'Although there appears to have been a real rise in children
needing protection, other factors may have contributed, including
greater community awareness, a broadening of what governments
regard as child abuse or neglect, and changes in child protection
policies and practices,' she said
The report, Child protection Australia 2008-09, showed Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children continue to be over-represented in the child
protection system, with the rate of Indigenous children in
out-of-home care over nine times the rate of their non-Indigenous
counterparts.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were more than
eight times as likely to be on a care and protection order.
'The reasons for the over-representation of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system are
complex and can involve factors such as the intergenerational
effects of previous separations from family and culture and poor
socioeconomic status,' Ms Valentine said
The report also showed that states and territories provided a
range of 254 intensive family support services across 267 locations
in 2009.
These services aim to benefit families by improving their
ability to care for children and strengthen family
relationships.
Thursday 21 January 2010
Further information: Ms Kate Valentine, AIHW,
tel. (02) 6244
1132, mob. 0418 271 395, or Mr Tim Beard, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1270, mob.
0407 915 851
For media copies of the report:tel. (02) 6244 1032.
Child protection Australia 2008-09.
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