Child protection in a COVID-19 environment - an AIHW report

Child protection services seek to protect children from abuse and neglect in family settings. One in every thirty-three children in Australia—or 174,700 children—received child protection services in 2019–20, a similar rate to 2018–19.

Child abuse or neglect suspicions are often reported by schools, child care centres, and other people or services children come into contact with. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected daily life through restrictions on people’s movements and interactions, while also affecting how businesses and services can operate— this potentially limits opportunities for child abuse and neglect to be detected and reported.

                                                                                            Source: AIHW

The pandemic has also affected the way families live and work, with many people experiencing financial hardship and other stresses. All families experience challenges when caring for their children, but the COVID-19 pandemic may have made some more vulnerable. While this does not necessarily mean a child will be harmed, these factors may impact on the likelihood of abuse and neglect occurring. The concerns raised are based on experiences from previous crises including disease outbreaks, natural disasters and financial downturns.

This Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report presents child protection data from March to September 2020 (including the ‘first wave’ of COVID-19 restrictions for Australia, and some of the ‘second wave’ of restrictions for Victoria) with comparisons to the same period in 2019. Information is also presented on a number of risk factors for child abuse and neglect, including financial and housing stress, parental mental health and substance use, and domestic violence. This report complements the regular annual national reporting on child protection, for example, Child protection Australia 2019–20 (AIHW forthcoming 2021).

What help is being offered and sought? 

Parental access to support reduces the risk of child abuse and neglect. The social and financial impact of COVID-19 restrictions may not only increase parental need for support but also make accessing support more difficult.

Recommended reading for health and other workers involved in Child Protection Services.