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.
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 with family and kin, connected to community and culture.
However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are over-represented in the child protection system both in Queensland and nationally at levels significantly above their population share (9% at June 2024).
The Child Protection Act 1999 recognises a child has the right to be brought up safely in culture 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 Queensland Government is committed to Target 12 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap—to reduce the rate of overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 45% by 2031—and is progressing this commitment through Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031 and its action plans.
The department continues to work in partnership with the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and non-government partners to develop and deliver culturally responsive and safe models of care and prevention and early intervention family support.
Proportion of children subject to an intake that were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (quarterly)
| Year ending 31 Mar 2025 | Year ending 30 Jun 2025 | Year ending 30 Sep 2025 | Year ending 31 Dec 2025 | Year ending 31 Mar 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children | 25.7% | 25.9% | 25.9% | 26.1% | 26.5% |
| Unborn | 40.0% | 40.4% | 41.9% | 41.3% | 41.5% |
| 0 to 4 | 29.6% | 30.1% | 29.8% | 30.1% | 30.7% |
| 5 to 9 | 25.2% | 25.2% | 25.2% | 25.3% | 25.6% |
| 10 to 14 | 23.4% | 23.4% | 23.6% | 23.8% | 24.1% |
| 15 to 17 | 23.3% | 23.5% | 23.4% | 23.7% | 23.9% |
| Unknown | 22.1% | 26.6% | 26.9% | 26.1% | 26.0% |
Proportion of children subject to an intake that were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (annual)
| Year ending 30 Jun 2021 | Year ending 30 Jun 2022 | Year ending 30 Jun 2023 | Year ending 30 Jun 2024 | Year ending 30 Jun 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children | 24.2% | 24.8% | 25.8% | 26.1% | 25.9% |
| Unborn | 35.8% | 35.4% | 39.7% | 37.8% | 40.4% |
| 0 to 4 | 26.9% | 28.0% | 29.6% | 29.9% | 30.1% |
| 5 to 9 | 23.8% | 24.3% | 25.3% | 25.7% | 25.2% |
| 10 to 14 | 22.4% | 23.0% | 23.7% | 24.0% | 23.4% |
| 15 to 17 | 21.9% | 22.4% | 22.5% | 23.6% | 23.5% |
| Unknown | 7.2% | 15.8% | 9.5% | 16.4% | 26.6% |
Notes:
1.Data is for the year ending the reference date (12 months of data). Includes intakes received during the reference period that were recorded in either the previous client management system ICMS or the new Unify system.
2.If a child was subject to both an approved notification and an approved child concern report they are counted only once according to their first intake type.
3. Age group: Based on the age of the child at the time the concerns were received.
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 interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
Proportion of children notified that were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (quarterly)
| Year ending 31 Mar 2025 | Year ending 30 Jun 2025 | Year ending 30 Sep 2025 | Year ending 31 Dec 2025 | Year ending 31 Mar 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children | 31.1% | 31.2% | 31.6% | 31.7% | 31.9% |
| Unborn | 41.4% | 42.0% | 43.5% | 42.8% | 43.1% |
| 0 to 4 | 35.8% | 35.9% | 36.1% | 36.4% | 37.0% |
| 5 to 9 | 30.3% | 30.4% | 30.8% | 30.8% | 31.1% |
| 10 to 14 | 28.0% | 28.0% | 28.5% | 28.5% | 28.7% |
| 15 to 17 | 26.7% | 26.9% | 27.6% | 27.7% | 27.9% |
| Unknown | 27.6% | 41.9% | 35.7% | 33.0% | 31.8% |
Proportion of children notified that were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (annual)
| Year ending 30 Jun 2021 | Year ending 30 Jun 2022 | Year ending 30 Jun 2023 | Year ending 30 Jun 2024 | Year ending 30 Jun 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children | 32.5% | 31.9% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 31.2% |
| Unborn | 40.1% | 40.6% | 43.3% | 39.1% | 42.0% |
| 0 to 4 | 35.0% | 36.1% | 36.7% | 35.7% | 35.9% |
| 5 to 9 | 31.4% | 31.3% | 31.2% | 29.9% | 30.4% |
| 10 to 14 | 30.9% | 29.0% | 28.6% | 27.6% | 28.0% |
| 15 to 17 | 28.6% | 27.0% | 26.9% | 26.9% | 26.9% |
| Unknown | 6.7% | 7.5% | 14.3% | 20.8% | 41.9% |
Notes:
1.Data is for the year ending the reference date (12 months of data). Includes intakes received that were screened in as a notification during the reference period that were recorded in either the previous client management system ICMS or the new Unify system.
2.If a child was subject to more than one approved notification they are counted only once according to their first approved notification.
3. Age group: Based on the age of the child at the time the concerns were received.
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 interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in contact with Child Safety - Rate per 1,000
| Measure | 30 Jun 2021 | 30 Jun 2022 | 30 Jun 2023 | 30 Jun 2024 | 30 Jun 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate per 1,000 children subject to an intake | 169.8 | 172.9 | 187.5 | 193.0 | 196.4 |
| Rate per 1,000 children notified | 69.8 | 77.6 | 81.9 | 91.4 | 102.2 |
Notes:
1. Data is for the year ending the reference date (12 months of data).
2. Children subject to an intake: If a child was subject to more than one intake during the period, the child is counted only once. Unborn children have been excluded from these rates per 1,000 children calculations.
3. Children subject to a notification: If a child was subject to more than one notification during the period, the child is counted only once. Unborn children have been excluded from these rates per 1,000 children calculations.
4. Rate per thousand: Refers to the number of children subject to an intake or notification 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.
5. Intake: Intake refers to the process by which Child Safety receives and gathers information about harm or risk of harm to a child or an unborn child who may be at risk of harm after he or she is born, and determines the appropriate response to the information received. Intake processes are initiated when professionals, family members or members of the public contact Regional Intake Services or Child Safety Service Centres with concerns about a child.
6. Notification: A notification is recorded where there is a reasonable suspicion that a child is in need of protection, that is, a child has been significantly harmed, is being significantly harmed, or is at risk of significant harm, and does not have a parent able and willing to protect them.
7. 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).
8. 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 interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.