New data from the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs show the number of investigations begun by Child Safety in the past year has increased by 2.3 per cent.
In a statement, the Department said the latest quarterly data showed the number of investigations begun on time increased by 1.2 percentage points compared to the same period last year.
It said the data revealed that the drug, ice, continued to be an issue with 43 per cent of children coming into care in the 12 months to 30 June having a parent who had a record of methamphetamine use — up from 39 per cent a year ago.
Minister for Children, Leanne Linard said this was not an area where anyone could ever rest.
“That’s why there are 550 more frontline child safety workers than there were in 2015 and why we are opening new facilities as we did recently in Ipswich,” Ms Linard said.
“This means more children deemed at risk are being seen and more families are getting the support they need,” she said.
The Minister said the most urgent cases were prioritised, with 94 per cent starting on time, and more people were stepping up to become foster carers and kinship carers.
“Over the past year, we have seen 1,641 families taking up that role for the first time,” she said.
“We are so grateful to all of our foster and kinship carers, and because of them, 45.6 per cent of these children were able to be placed with kin,” Ms Linard said.
The Department’s latest data can be accessed at this PS News link.
