Child protection Australia 2019–20

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) have released their annual “Child Protection Australia 2019-20” report. The report shows the rate of children receiving child protection services continues to rise, with a reported 3.8% increase over the last four year period. In 2019-2020, about 174,700 children aged 0-17 received child protection services, more than half (57%) were investigation only, not requiring subsequent care and protection orders.

The rates of children in out-of-home care, overnight care for children under 18 who are unable to live with their families due to child safety concerns, has remained relatively stable since 2017. The vast majority (92%) of children in out-of-home care as at 30 June 2020 were in home-based care mostly with a relative or kinship carers (67%), or foster care (37%).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be over-represented among children receiving child protection services. In 2019–20, 55,300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children received child protection services, a rate of 166 per 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children —an increase from 151 per 1,000 in 2016–17. 1 in 18 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (around 18,900) were in out-of-home care at 30 June 2020, almost two-thirds (63%) of whom were living with relatives, kin or other Indigenous caregivers.

Go to “Child Protection Australia 2019-20”