Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework indicators

Development of data reporting and an evaluation framework measuring outcomes were agreed as part of ministerial commitments promoting permanency for children in out-of-home care. The Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) was developed to measure jurisdictional performance on achieving permanency outcomes for children in out-of-home care (Seselja 2017; CSM 2018). 

This data summary table presents data on 14 indicators under POPF. Aspects of permanency covered by the indicators include: 

  • preservation (where families are supported to keep children at home safely)
  • reunification (where children are returned home safely after time in out-of-home care)
  • where reunification is not possible, what permanency outcome is achieved (third-party parental responsibility order or adoption)
  • stability of permanency outcomes (whether it is still in place after 12 months). 

Indicators on timely and informed decision-making related to permanency arrangements are also presented. These focus on achievement of orders and permanency outcomes within 2 years of admission to out-of-home care.

Other indicators relate to children for whom it’s deemed in their best interests to remain in long term out-of-home care. These indicators focus on children who have been in care for more than 2 years, covering:

  • legal stability (which legal orders children are placed on and how long it takes to achieve their order)
  • placement stability (time in placement and number of placements). 

A summary of all POPF indicators is provided in the table below for quick reference. For further context on the data below, please refer to the CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators technical specifications and data tables.

Table 1: POPF indicators 2021–22 – national summary
IndicatorNational data
Domain 1Permanent, safe and stable care

1.1a

About 45,400 children (8 per 1,000) aged 0–17 were in out-of-home care at 30 June 2022.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Insights, data table S5.5.

1.1b

About 31,700 children (70%) aged 0–17 in out-of-home care at 30 June 2022 had been in out-of-home care for 2 years or more.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Insights, data table S5.14.

Domain 1Preservation

1.2

82% of children aged 0–16 who were the subject of a substantiation in 2020–21 were not admitted to out-of-home care within 12 months of the substantiation.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.1.

Domain 1Reunification and permanent care
1.3

17% of children aged 0–17 in out-of-home care (excluding children on long-term guardianship orders) were reunified in 2021–22.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, data table 10.15.

1.4

2.2% of children aged 0–17 in out-of-home care received a third-party parental responsibility order in 2021–22.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.2.

1.5

Less than 1% of children (92 children) aged 0–17 in out-of-home care were adopted in 2021–22.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.3.

1.6

88% of children aged 0–16 who exited out-of-home care to a permanency outcome in 2020–21 did not return to out-of-home care within 12 months.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.4.

1.6a

85% of children aged 0–16 who exited out-of-home care to reunification in 2020–21 did not return to out-of-home care within 12 months.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, data table 10.19.

1.6b

Almost 100% of children aged 0–16 who exited out-of-home care to a third-party parental responsibility order in 2020–21 did not return to out-of-home care within 12 months.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.5.

1.6c

All children (100%) aged 0–16 who exited out-of-home care to adoption in 2020–21 did not return to out-of-home care within 12 months.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.6

Domain 1Stability
1.7a

81% of children aged 2–17 in out-of-home care for 2 or more years at 30 June 2022 were on long-term guardianship orders.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.7

1.7b

87% of children aged 2–17 in out-of-home care for 2 or more years at 30 June 2022 experienced less than 3 placements in the last 2 years.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.8.

Domain 2Timely and informed decision-making on permanency
2.1

89% of children aged 0–17 in out-of-home care received a finalised care and protection order within 2 years of admission to out-of-home care in 2021–22.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.10.

2.2

75% of children aged 0–17 in out-of-home care received a permanency outcome or long-term guardianship order within 2 years of admission to out-of-home care in 2021–22.

Source: CPA 2021–22: Permanency Outcomes Performance Framework (POPF) indicators, data table 11.11.

References

CSM (Community Services Ministers) (1 June 2018) Community Services Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué, [media release], Australian Government.

Seselja, the Hon. Z (25 August 2017) Community Services Ministers’ Meeting Communique, [media release], Australian Government.

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