Education outcomes for children being supported
The department works closely in partnership with the Department of Education (DoE) to ensure each child and young person in care is enrolled and actively engaging in an educational program that meets their individual learning needs to maximise their educational potential.
Both departments acknowledge children and young people in care have experienced trauma and periods of instability which can have a significant impact on educational engagement and attainment.
Research and data indicate children in care are less likely to complete year 12, are more likely to be suspended or excluded from school and have poorer academic outcomes when compared to children not in care. In recognition of this, a range of supports are in place for children in care to maximise educational engagement and improve academic outcomes.
Education outcomes data provides a comparative view of results for children in care for the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy test (NAPLAN), Senior Secondary Outcomes and Next Step – Post-school Destinations.
Comprehensive information describing these education programs is available via the links below.
NAPLAN
https://www.nap.edu.au/results-and-reports/national-reports
QCAA Senior Secondary Outcomes
https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/publications/statistics
Post-school Destinations
Children in care who were achieving at or above the national minimal standard (NAPLAN)
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
Special note: In 2020 Education Ministers agreed to cancel NAPLAN due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Data is as at the reference date.
- All Queensland students: Counts the proportion of Queensland students who were achieving at or above the national minimum standard for NAPLAN.
- Children in care: Counts the proportion of students who are also children in care who were achieving at or above the national minimum standard.
- Students exempt from testing are included in the proportions as students who were below the national minimum standard.
- Proportions exclude students who were absent or withdrew from the tests.
- Includes children in care in both state and non-state schools.
- Test year level: Based on the year level of the child as at the reference date.
- Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and children whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
- National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN): A series of common literacy and numeracy tests conducted annually across Australia for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
- National minimum standard: The national minimum standards represent minimum performance standards in literacy and numeracy for a given year level, below which students will have difficulty progressing satisfactorily at school.
- In 2020 Education Ministers agreed to cancel NAPLAN due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In 2023, a new NAPLAN timeseries was established.
- The new NAPLAN timeseries introduced four proficiency standards of achievement.
- The four proficiency standards replace the previous numerical NAPLAN bands and national minimum standards set in 2008.
- NAPLAN results from 2023 on will not be directly compared with NAPLAN results from 2008 to 2022.
Children in care awarded a certification by the end of year 12
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
- Data is as at the reference date.
- Awarded a certification: Counts the proportion of students who were awarded a Queensland Certification of Education (QCE) or Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA) by the end of year 12.
- Awarded either QCE/VET/SAT/IBD: Counts the proportion of students who were awarded a Queensland Certificate of Education, Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification, International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD) or who were completing or had completed a School-based Apprenticeship Traineeship (SAT) by the end of year 12.
- If a students achieves more than one of these certificates, they are only counted once.
- Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and children whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
- Queensland Certification of Education (QCE): Queensland’s senior school qualification. QCEs are awarded to students who attained at least 20 credits in the required pattern, and have met literacy and numeracy requirements.
- Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA): The QCIA recognises the achievements of eligible students who are on individualised learning programs. The certificate is an official record that students have completed at least 12 years of education. To be eligible, students must have impairments or difficulties in learning that are not primarily due to socioeconomic, cultural or linguistic factors.
- Vocational Education and Training (VET): VET qualifications provide pathways for all young people, including those seeking further education and training and those seeking employment-specific skills. VET qualifications: Certificate I, II, III, IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma.
- School-based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SAT): School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) allow students to work for an employer and train towards a recognised qualification, while completing their secondary schooling.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD): In Queensland, the IBD is recognised as study contributing to a Queensland Certification of Education (QCE).
Post-school destinations of children in care
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
- Data is as at the reference date.
- Counts post-school destinations of students who were in care when they completed year 12.
- Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and children whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
- Care must be taken when interpreting these results due to the small number of survey responses involved and the possibility of survey non-response bias.
- 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.