This report contains comprehensive information on state and territory child protection and support services, and the characteristics of Australian children within the child protection system. Key findings include: - Between 2010-11 and 2011-12, the number of children who were the subject of substantiations increased from 31,527 to 37,781 (an increase in the rate from 6.1 to 7.4 per 1,000 children). - There were 14,191 children admitted to orders during 2011-12; about two-fifths (39%) of these children had previously been admitted to an order. - The rate of children in out-of-home care at 30 June increased from 7.3 per 1,000 children in 2011 to 7.7 in 2012.