Data released by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) has revealed that the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system continues to grow.
Commissioner for the QFCC 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.”
She said most concerning was a 21.7 per cent increase in placements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in residential care 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.
She said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people continued to 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.”
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,” she said.
“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.”
