In April 2025, the department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify).
Updated data beyond the 31 March 2025 quarter is now available for selected performance measures and will be progressively updated as further data becomes available.
CHILDREN SUBJECT TO CHILD PROTECTION ORDERS
Children subject to child protection orders by order type
| Order type | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive to supervise matters | 198 | 190 | 210 | 207 |
| Directing a parent's actions/contact | 119 | 123 | 127 | 125 |
| Guardianship/custody to a relative or other person(a) | 2,020 | 2,054 | 2,092 | 2,091 |
| Guardianship/Custody to the Chief Executive | 11,124 | 11,222 | 11,348 | 11,384 |
| No custody or guardianship(b) | 182 | 274 | 320 | 340 |
| Total | 13,643 | 13,863 | 14,097 | 14,147 |
Children subject to child protection orders by order length and custody/guardianship
| Order length and custody | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children subject to a short-term order | 5,525 | 5,698 | 5,912 | 5,996 |
| Chief Executive | 5,018 | 5,103 | 5,249 | 5,313 |
| Other suitable person (including relatives) | 8 | 8 | 6 | 11 |
| No custody or guardianship(b) | 499 | 587 | 657 | 672 |
| Children subject to a long-term order | 8,118 | 8,165 | 8,185 | 8,151 |
| Chief Executive | 6,106 | 6,119 | 6,099 | 6,071 |
| Other suitable person (including relatives) | 1,546 | 1,561 | 1,562 | 1,543 |
| Permanent care order | 466 | 485 | 524 | 537 |
| Total | 13,643 | 13,863 | 14,097 | 14,147 |
Rate of children subject to child protection orders per 1,000 children (0-17 years of age)(c)
| 30 Jun 2021 | 30 Jun 2022 | 30 Jun 2023 | 30 Jun 2024 | 30 Jun 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All children | 10.4 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 10.7 | 11.1 |
| Long-term child protection order | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 |
| Short-term child protection order | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 50.0 | 53.7 | 53.9 | 54.3 | 56.9 |
| Long-term child protection order | 30.0 | 31.4 | 31.8 | 32.8 | 33.2 |
| Short-term child protection order | 20.0 | 22.3 | 22.1 | 21.5 | 23.7 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(d) | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.4 |
| Long-term child protection order | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Short-term child protection order | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
Source: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
Notes:
1. Data is as at the reference date.
2. Counts the number of children subject to a child protection order (including interim child protection orders) as at the reference date.
3. From 30 June 2025, counts include interim orders authorising an authorised officer or police officer to have contact with the child, authorising an authorised officer or police officer to enter and search any place the officer reasonably believes the child is, to find the child, and regarding the child’s contact with the child’s family.
4. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and inter-related datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
5. Orders data for 30 June 2025, 30 September 2025, 31 December 2025 and 31 March 2026 was extracted from the system on 22 June 2026 and reflects data for children entered into the system by that date.
(a) Guardianship/Custody to a relative or other person: Includes children subject to a permanent care order.
(b) No custody or guardianship: includes interim child protection orders authorising an authorised officer to have contact with a child or enter and search any place to find the child
(c) Population data is available as at June each year and therefore rates per 1,000 are published for June quarter only.
(d) 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.
Children subject to child protection orders by age group
| Age group(a) | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | 2,543 | 2,604 | 2,651 | 2,651 |
| 5 to 9 | 3,702 | 3,762 | 3,820 | 3,859 |
| 10 to 14 | 4,429 | 4,491 | 4,548 | 4,551 |
| 15 to 17 | 2,969 | 3,006 | 3,078 | 3,086 |
| Total | 13,643 | 13,863 | 14,097 | 14,147 |
Children subject to child protection orders by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 6,573 | 6,759 | 6,893 | 6,945 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 7,070 | 7,104 | 7,204 | 7,202 |
| Total | 13,643 | 13,863 | 14,097 | 14,147 |
Source: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
Notes:
1. Data is as at the reference date.
2. Counts the number of children subject to a child protection order (including interim child protection orders) as at the reference date.
3. From 30 June 2025, counts include interim orders authorising an authorised officer or police officer to have contact with the child; authorising an authorised officer or police officer to enter and search any place the officer reasonably believes the child is, to find the child; and regarding the child’s contact with the child’s family.
4. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and inter-related datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
5. Orders data for 30 June 2025, 30 September 2025, 31 December 2025 and 31 March 2026 was extracted from the system on 22 June 2026 and reflects data for children entered into the system by that date.
(a) Age group: Based on the age of the child at the reference date.
(b) 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.
Children subject to long-term guardianship to other persons and permanent care orders
Children subject to long-term guardianship to other persons or permanent care orders by order type
| Order type | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term guardianship order to other person(a) | 1,546 | 1,561 | 1,562 | 1,543 |
| Permanent care order | 466 | 485 | 524 | 537 |
| Total | 2,012 | 2,046 | 2,086 | 2,080 |
Children subject to long-term guardianship to other persons or permanent care orders by age group
| Age group(b) | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | 153 | 159 | 158 | 143 |
| 5 to 9 | 541 | 556 | 577 | 594 |
| 10 to 14 | 765 | 773 | 780 | 781 |
| 15 to 17 | 553 | 558 | 571 | 562 |
| Total | 2,012 | 2,046 | 2,086 | 2,080 |
Children subject to long-term guardianship to other persons or permanent care orders by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 758 | 773 | 791 | 801 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (c) | 1,254 | 1,273 | 1,295 | 1,279 |
| Percentage of all children subject to long-term guardianship to other persons or permanent care orders who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 37.7% | 37.8% | 37.9% | 38.5% |
| Total | 2,012 | 2,046 | 2,086 | 2,080 |
Source: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
Notes:
1. Data is as at the reference date.
2. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and inter-related datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
3. Orders data for 30 June 2025, 30 September 2025, 31 December 2025 and 31 March 2026 was extracted from the system on 22 June 2026 and reflects data for children entered into the system by that date.
(a) Long-term guardianship order to other person: Includes all final child protection orders granting guardianship of a child to a family member or other suitable person.
(b) Age group: Based on the age of the child at the reference date.
(c) 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.
Percentage of young people aged 10 and over, on a child protection order who are also on a youth justice order (quarterly)
| 31 Mar 2025 | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 3.0% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (a) | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.7% |
Percentage of young people aged 10 and over, on a child protection order who are also on a youth justice order (annual)
| 30 Jun 2021 | 30 Jun 2022 | 30 Jun 2023 | 30 Jun 2024 | 30 Jun 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.9% |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 6.6% | 5.9% | 5.3% | 5.0% | 4.7% |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (a) | 2.3% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.4% |
Source: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety, and the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support
Notes:
1. Counts children aged 10-17 years, who were subject to a finalised or interim child protection order and a supervised youth justice order on the reference date.
2. Excludes young people subject to supervised youth justice orders who were over 17 on the reference date. Supervised youth justice orders include community service, conditional release, detention, graffiti removal, intensive supervision, probation, restorative justice (with supervision) and supervised release orders.
3. Orders data for 30 June 2025, 30 September 2025, 31 December 2025 and 31 March 2026 was extracted from the system on 22 June 2026 and reflects data for children entered into the system by that date.
4. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and inter-related datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) 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.
CHILDREN SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS
Children subject to protective orders by order type and length
| Children subject to protective orders | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Court Assessment Orders | 518 | 606 | 578 | 639 |
| Short-term Child Protection Orders | 5,525 | 5,698 | 5,912 | 5,996 |
| Long-term Child Protection Orders | 8,118 | 8,165 | 8,185 | 8,151 |
| Total | 14,161 | 14,469 | 14,675 | 14,786 |
Children subject to protective orders by order custody
| Order custody | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive | 11,624 | 11,804 | 11,908 | 11,989 |
| Other suitable person (including relatives) | 2,020 | 2,054 | 2,092 | 2,091 |
| No custody or guardianship(a) | 517 | 611 | 675 | 706 |
| Total | 14,161 | 14,469 | 14,675 | 14,786 |
Children subject to protective orders by order status
| Order status | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interim orders | 2,170 | 2,257 | 2,331 | 2,413 |
| Finalised orders | 11,991 | 12,212 | 12,344 | 12,373 |
| Total | 14,161 | 14,469 | 14,675 | 14,786 |
Rate of children subject to protective orders per 1,000 children (0-17 years of age) (SDS Measure)(b)
| 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All children | 11.6 | NA | NA | NA |
Notes:
1. Data is as at the reference date.
2. Counts children subject to a finalised or interim child protection order or court assessment order, as at the reference date. If a child is subject to more than one type of order they are counted only once, in the category of their most serious order.
3. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and inter-related datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) No custody or guardianship: includes interim orders authorising an authorised officer to have contact with a child or enter and search any place to find the child.
(b) Population data is available as at June each year and therefore rates per 1,000 are published for June quarter only.
Children on orders
The Child Protection Act 1999 provides for a number of different child protection orders to be granted by the Childrens Court.
The types of child protection orders that can be granted by the Childrens Court include:
- short-term child protection orders (directive, supervision, custody to the chief executive or a suitable person who is a member of the child's family, short term guardianship to the chief executive) or
- long-term child protection order (guardianship to the chief executive, a relative of the child or another suitable person) or
- permanent care order.
When the Childrens Court grants custody or guardianship of a child to the chief executive (Director-General) of the department, it is the department's responsibility to find an appropriate care arrangement for the child. The department uses various care arrangements for the children in its care including family-based care (foster, kinship and provisionally approved carers) and residential care services.
Wherever possible, the department seeks to place a child with extended family (kinship carers) in order to maintain family connections.
Children may also be living in other locations such as health facilities, boarding schools, youth detention centres, as well as in independent living arrangements.
Children on a child protection order
Source: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
- Data is as at the reference date.
- Counts the number of children subject to a child protection order as at the reference date.
- Age group: Based on the age 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.
- Guardianship/Custody to a relative or other person: Includes children subject to a permanent care order.
- 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.
- Long-term - Guardianship to a relative or other suitable person: An order made under the Child Protection Act 1999 that grants long-term guardianship of the child to a suitable family member (other than a parent of the child), another suitable person nominated by the chief executive until the child’s 18th birthday.
- Long-term - Guardianship to the chief executive: An order made under the Child Protection Act 1999 that grants long-term guardianship of the child to the chief executive until the child’s 18th birthday.
- Long-term - Permanent care order: A long term child protection order where a permanent guardian is legally appointed to a child. Only the office of the Director Child Protection Litigation (DCPL) can apply to revoke or vary a Permanent Care Order. Once a Permanent Care Order is made, the department has no further involvement with the child subject to the order unless the guardian or the child request a review of the case plan, or a complaint is made.
- Short-term - Chief executive to supervise matters: A child protection order that requires the chief executive to supervise the child's protection in relation to the matters stated in the order. The order is made for a period up to 1 year.
- Short-term - Directing a parent's actions/contact: An order made under the Child Protection Act 1999 directing a parent, to do or refrain from doing something directly related to the child's protection or not to have contact (direct or indirect) with the child, or to only have contact when a stated person or a person of a stated category is present. The order is made for a period up to 1 year.
- Short-term - Guardianship: An order made under the Child Protection Act 1999 granting guardianship rights and responsibilities to the chief executive in relation to the child (for a period of up to two years), including matters associated with the child's daily care.
- Short-term Custody: An order made under the Child Protection Act 1999 granting custody rights and responsibilities to a kinship carer or to the chief executive (for a period of up to two years). Guardianship rights and responsibilities in relation to the child remain with the child's parents for the duration of the custody order.
Living arrangements of children on a child protection order
Source: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
- Data is as at the reference date.
- Counts the number of children subject to a child protection order as at the reference date.
- Counts where the child was living as at the reference date.
- Age group: Based on the age 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.
- 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.
- Foster care: Includes children living with a foster carer or a provisionally approved carer where no family relationship exists between carer and child.
- Kinship care: Includes children living with a kinship carer, and children living with a foster carer or provisionally approved carer where a family relationship exists between the carer and child.
- Parents: Includes children living with a parent/s while being provided ongoing support by the department.
- Residential care: Includes children living is non-family-based accommodation and support services funded by the department to provide placement and support for children. These residential services provide daily care and support for children from a house parent or rostered residential care workers model.
- Other: Includes locations such as hospitals, boarding schools, Queensland youth detention centres and all other locations.