National data
A Queensland comparison to the Australian national average
The information presented indicates how Queensland compares to the Australian national average for key measures reported in national publications.
Child protection services
Child protection services
The rates of children in Queensland’s child protection system are one of the lowest in Australia. Latest data shows that:
- 5.4 per 1,000 children in Queensland were subject to substantiations in 2020-21, which was below the national average of 8.8.
- 10.5 per 1,000 children in Queensland were subject to care and protection orders as at 30 June 2021, which was below the national average of 10.9.
- 7.9 per 1,000 children in Queensland were in care as at 30 June 2021, which was below the national average of 8.2.
However, the rate of children admitted to care in Queensland remains above the national average.
Rate per 1,000 children subject to substantiations year ending 30 June
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.4 |
| Australia | 9.0 | 5.8 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.8 |
Rate per 1,000 children subject to care and protection orders as at 30 June
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 10.5 |
| Australia | 9.9 | 10.1 | 10.5 | 10.8 | 10.9 |
Source: 2022 Report on Government Services Table 16A.1
Rate per 1,000 children in care as at 30 June
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.9 | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| Australia | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 8.2 |
Source: 2016-17 to 2019-20 data are from the 2019-20 Child Protection Australia Table A1. 2020-21 data are from the 2022 Report on Government Services Table 16A.2.
Notes: See footnotes on 2022 Report of Government Services table 16A.1 regarding the data in this table.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Queensland's results in national publications can differ to results publicly reported by the department on other sections of this website. This is because measures reported in national publications follow national counting rules, while measures reported in other sections of this website use counting rules that align with Queensland legislation, policy and practice.