The number of children in residential care in Queensland has stabilised for the first time in 10 years, while the number in foster and kinship care has increased, the latest child safety department data has revealed.
Key findings of the June quarterly child safety data include:
- 2,804 children in residential care, compared to 2,819 in the March quarter;
- 80% of children are placed in family-based stable care, up from 79% in March.;
- 6,648 children in kinship care, a 2.4% increase on March;
- 4,284 children in foster care, a 0.8% increase on March;
- 13,736 total children in care;
- 15.9 average cases per child safety officer, remaining stable.
The second ever census has revealed 833 vulnerable children had left their placements, with 12 children considered ‘missing’. All 12 of these children have been safely accounted for by the Department, the Government said in a statement.
The Government says it is focused on moving more children away from residential care into family-based homes, and the number of carer families in Queensland has increased to 6,963, up 2.9% from the previous quarter.
Importantly, the number of additional foster and kinship carers in Queensland between June 2024 – June 26 has grown to 722.
Child Safety Minister, Amanda Camm said the Government was focused on making Queensland safer.
“The Commission of Inquiry was a line in the sand into Labor’s broken child safety system, that was neglected by five former Labor ministers, with residential care predicted to hit 3,000 children,” Minister Camm said.
“The latest data shows the first stabilisation in the number of kids in residential care after it grew year after year under Labor, but there’s still plenty of more work to do.
“We are getting more vulnerable children into stable and loving care, with now almost 7,000 carer families across the state, as we continue to attract new carers and crack down on unlicenced providers.
“Our second Census into self-placing children found 833 vulnerable children had left their placements, and we will continue to investigate all options on how we can ensure children in care are where they are supposed to be and not in dangerous environments.”
