Child Protection Report

Child Protection Australia 2007-2008 has been released by the AIHW this month. It provides comprehensive information on state and territory child protection and support services. The report contains data for 2007-08, as well as trend data on child protection notifications, investigations and substantiations, children on care and protection orders and children in out-of-home care.

In a summary of findings, the authors state, "With the many differences in the way each state or territory handles and reports child protection issues, one must interpret relevant statistical information with caution. But, on balance, the trend is that nationally, substantiations, and the number and rates of children under care and protection orders or in out-of-home care have been on the rise. 2007–08 represents an anomaly, as substantiations fell for the first time in ten years. At this stage it is difficult to tell whether this decrease will continue or not. The available evidence shows very clearly that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are verrepresented in all of these areas."