Over-representation in the child protection system
The majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Queensland live safely at home connected to family, kin, community and culture.
The Child Protection Act 1999 specifically recognises a child has the right to be brought up safely within the child’s own family, kin and community. Safe families, supported by strong community and cultural networks, provide a solid childhood foundation for education, employment and health outcomes later in life. The department is committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families have this opportunity by ensuring families have access to quality, culturally safe universal and targeted services necessary for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to thrive.
However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are over-represented in the child protection system both Queensland and nationally at levels significantly above their population share (8% at June 2022).
Our Way: A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2017–2037 (Our Way) sets out a roadmap to eliminate the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Queensland child protection system, and close the gap in life outcomes, by 2037. Co-designed in genuine partnership with Family Matters Queensland, Our Way is being delivered through a series of seven action plans across three implementation phases Changing Tracks (2017–2022), Breaking Cycles (2023–2031) and Hitting Targets (2032–2037).The first action plans, Changing Tracks sets the foundations for system and policy setting changes across the child protection system to achieve transformational change in Queensland within a generation.
The Breaking Cycles 2023-2025 action plan builds on the foundations set under Changing Tracks, with a focus on changing the way that services are designed and delivered with, by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families.
Our Way and the supporting action plans represent a whole-of government commitment to collective action to address the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Queensland child protection system. The implementation of Our Way is overseen by the Queensland First Children and Families Board, comprising highly respected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders from across Queensland.
Establishing the Queensland First Children and Families Board
Family Matters: Strong Communities. Strong Culture. Stronger Children
Percentage of children in care who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
- Data is as at the reference date.
- 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.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in care - Rate per 1,000
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
- Data is as at the reference date.
- Rate per thousand: Counts the number of children in care divided by the population of children and young people aged 0-17 years of age. Population data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and is based on estimated resident population for Queenslanders aged 0-17 years, as at 30 June of the previous year.
- 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.
From June 2019 - Estimated resident population data for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Queensland have been revised for all reference periods using rebased population estimates by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2016 Census based) sourced from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. The size, structure and components of these estimates supersede those previously published by the ABS (2011 Census based).
From June 2023 - Estimated resident population data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Queensland have been revised for all reference periods using rebased population estimates by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2021 Census based) sourced from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. The size, structure and components of these estimates supersede those previously published by the ABS (2016 Census based).
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children entering care or admitted to a child protection order - Rate per 1,000
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
- Data is for the year ending the reference date (12 months of data).
- Children entering care: Counts the number of children admitted into care. If a child entered care more than once within the reference period, the child is counted only once.
- Children admitted to a child protection order: Counts the number of children admitted to child protection orders in the reference period. If a child is the subject to more than one admission to a child protection order, the child is counted only once.
- Rate per thousand: Counts the number of children on a child protection order or children entering care divided by the population of children and young people aged 0-17 years of age. Population data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and is based on estimated resident population for Queenslanders aged 0-17 years, as at 30 June of the previous year.
- 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.
- 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.
From June 2019 - Estimated resident population data for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Queensland have been revised for all reference periods using rebased population estimates by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2016 Census based) sourced from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. The size, structure and components of these estimates supersede those previously published by the ABS (2011 Census based).
From June 2023 - Estimated resident population data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Queensland have been revised for all reference periods using rebased population estimates by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2021 Census based) sourced from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. The size, structure and components of these estimates supersede those previously published by the ABS (2016 Census based).