Over-representation in the child protection system
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families will have access to culturally appropriate Indigenous-specific and mainstream services and care.
Over-representation in care
Over-representation in the child protection system
The majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in Queensland live safely at home in their community and culture.
The Child Protection Act 1999 specifically recognises a child has the right to be brought up within the child’s own family and community. Safe families, supported by strong community and cultural networks, provide a solid childhood foundation for education, employment and health outcomes later in life. The department is committed to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to exercise opportunities to live well by ensuring families enjoy access to quality, culturally safe universal and targeted services necessary for First Nations children to thrive.
However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are over-represented in the child protection system both Queensland and nationally at levels significantly above their population share (8% at June 2021).
Our Way: A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2017–2037 (Our Way) sets out a roadmap to achieve the ambitious target to eliminate the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system, and close the gap in life outcomes, by 2037. Co-designed in genuine partnership with Family Matters Queensland, Our Way is supported by a series of action plans. The first action plans, Changing Tracks focuses on changes to the systems and policy setting to set the foundations to achieve transformational change in Queensland within a generation.
Our Way and the supporting action plans were approved by the Queensland Government and involve collective action from multiple government agencies, and their implementation is overseen by the Queensland First Children and Families Board that includes highly respected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members from across Queensland.
More broadly Family Matters is a national coalition committed to eliminating the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in the child protection system.
Percentage of children in care who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
What is being counted
Data is as at the reference date.
Definition notes
Children in care: The provision of care outside the family home to children who are in need of protection or who require a safe placement while their protection and safety needs are assessed. In accordance with nationally agreed reporting definitions, data for children in care refers to children placed with kin, other home-based carers or residential care services.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in care - Rate per 1,000
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
What is being counted
Data is as at the reference date.
Rate per thousand: Counts the number of children in care divided by the population of children and young people aged 0-17 years of age. Population data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and is based on estimated resident population for Queenslanders aged 0-17 years, as at 30 June of the previous year.
Definition notes
Children in care: The provision of care outside the family home to children who are in need of protection or who require a safe placement while their protection and safety needs are assessed. In accordance with nationally agreed reporting definitions, data for children in care refers to children placed with kin, other home-based carers or residential care services.
Time series notes
From June 2019 - Estimated resident population data for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Queensland have been revised for all reference periods using rebased population estimates by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2016 Census based) sourced from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. The size, structure and components of these estimates supersede those previously published by the ABS (2011 Census based).
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children entering care or admitted to a child protection order - Rate per 1,000
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
What is being counted
Data is for the year ending the reference date (12 months of data).
Children entering care: Counts the number of children admitted into care. If a child entered care more than once within the reference period, the child is counted only once.
Children admitted to a child protection order: Counts the number of children admitted to child protection orders in the reference period. If a child is the subject to more than one admission to a child protection order, the child is counted only once.
Rate per thousand: Counts the number of children on a child protection order or children entering care divided by the population of children and young people aged 0-17 years of age. Population data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and is based on estimated resident population for Queenslanders aged 0-17 years, as at 30 June of the previous year.
Definition notes
Children in care: The provision of care outside the family home to children who are in need of protection or who require a safe placement while their protection and safety needs are assessed. In accordance with nationally agreed reporting definitions, data for children in care refers to children placed with kin, other home-based carers or residential care services.
Child protection order: A child protection order is an order made by the Childrens Court under the Child Protection Act 1999, when a child is assessed to be in need of protection. There are different types of child protection orders, depending on a child and family's situation, including directive orders, supervision orders, custody orders and guardianship orders.
Time series notes
From June 2019 - Estimated resident population data for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Queensland have been revised for all reference periods using rebased population estimates by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2016 Census based) sourced from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. The size, structure and components of these estimates supersede those previously published by the ABS (2011 Census based).
