During 2020–21, more than 178,800 Australian children received child protection services. Of these children, 68% (around 120,800) were the subject of an investigation of a notification of abuse or neglect and about 49,700 children were the subjects of substantiations in 2020–21. At 30 June 2021, more than 46,200 children were in out-of-home care with 91% being in a home-based care placement.

  • Cat. no: CWS 87
Findings from this report:
  • Indigenous children on care and protection orders at 30 June increased from about 19,700 in 2017 to about 24,200 in 2021

  • Between 2016–17 and 2020–21, emotional abuse remained the most common primary type of substantiated abuse or neglect

  • At 30 June 2021, 91% of children in out-of-home care were in home-based placements, the most common placement since 2017

  • 63% of Indigenous children in out-of-home care were living with relatives/kin or other Indigenous caregivers