Rate of First Nations kids in care continues to rise
29 July 2022The over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Queensland’s child protection system continues to grow, according to data released by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC).
QFCC Commissioner and Gamilaraay woman Natalie Lewis said the commission had for the first time compared annual data of the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children entering and exiting the child protection system and their duration in care.
“Our analysis of data over a two-year period between 2019–20 and 2021–21 highlighted a number of concerning trends, with the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children within Queensland’s statutory child protection system increasing at every point,” Ms Lewis said.
“The data shows the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care in Queensland grew by 7.6 per cent over the period.
“Concerningly, placements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in residential care increased 21.7 per cent between 2019–20 and 2020–21.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are remaining in care for longer periods of time, with the number of children staying in care for between two and five years increasing by 14.5 per cent between 2019–20 and 2020–21, and the number in care for longer than five years increasing by almost five per cent.”
Ms Lewis said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people continued to overwhelmingly be disproportionately reported to Child Safety.
“In 2020–21, 15.6 per cent of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Queensland had a report recorded about them; however, when these concerns were investigated, 63 per cent were unsubstantiated,” Ms Lewis said.
“While we did see a slight improvement in the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children reunified with their parents in 2020–21 compared with the previous year, the number remains low, with only 172 children successfully reunified with their parents out of 4882 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children placed in out-of-home in care Queensland.”
Ms Lewis said reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system needed to be prioritised.
“To reduce over-representation, we need to see more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children exiting care than entering, a reduction in the time a child spends in care, and more reunifications with their family.
“To achieve this, we need to enable more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations to provide family support so children can remain home safely with their families.
“We also have regional data that identifies specific areas in Queensland that require urgent attention, as well as those that are making some progress in reducing over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care.
“Using this data, we can identify what is making an impact in some regions and aim to apply those strategies and approaches in areas that need improvement.”
The QFCC will continue to publish this data annually to better understand the drivers behind the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Queensland’s child protection system.
The over-representation snapshots are available to view at ww.qfcc.qld.gov.au
ENDS
For media information contact:
Kirstine O’Donnell | Queensland Family and Child Commission
Phone: 0404 971 164
Email: kirstine.odonnell@qfcc.qld.gov.au