The recently released report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is an overview of statistics. As with previous reports its design is not to drill down into factors influencing protection orders or interventions, other than to refer to them as being subject to the following outcomes.

  • having been seriously harmed.
  • being at risk or significant risk of harm.
  • having no other care options.

The following is an excerpt and very basic summary of the extensive statistical report. However, one does not have to imagine what are key elements of harm that facilitate the need for intervention. All one has to do is look at adjacent reported emergences in growing dysfunctional culture that has and is permitting greater and greater substance use. 

Even though alcohol is being more closely monitored, it for over 150  years (Dalgarno Institute has the records), has been a community health, safety and well-being wrecking ball; but now we have the burgeoning illicit drug industry, that is being given greater tacit permission to operate – largely unchecked – in our current culture. The use of stimulants in particular, are at the very least correlated with some of these growing harms to children and families. 

Of course, if one is able to spelunk the obfuscated data on drugs and violent crime the correlation soon tips into causal– but so very few will call it out in a now recreational drug use enamoured society.  Aided and abetted by the continuing misuse of drug policy and a failure of an unequivocal public voice on this toxic conduct – The same voice we have on tobacco – a voice that worked. One Message, One Focus, One Voice – Quit! 

This report provides an overview of children in the child protection system in 2022–23, including children subject to notifications, investigations, and substantiations of maltreatment, and the ways children were supported.

The child protection system aims to protect children from maltreatment in family settings. Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power (WHO, 2020).

Key findings:

  • In 2022–23, about 180,000 children came into contact with the system, an increase from about 178,000 in 2021–22.
  • Between 2018–19 and 2022–23, the rate of children who were subjects of notifications increased from 48 to 51 per 1,000.
  • Between 2018–19 and 2022–23, the rate of children with substantiations remained relatively stable around 8.0 per 1,000.
  • Between 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2023, the rate of children in out-of-home care remained stable around 8.0 per 1,000.
  • As at 30 June 2023 45,300 children were in out-of-home care (7.9 per 1,000) (see Data table 5.1). Of these:19,700 were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (57 per 1,000 Indigenous children) 25,500 were non-Indigenous children (4.7 per 1,000 non-Indigenous children).
  • For children who were in out-of-home care at 30 June 2023: about 89% (40,400) were in home-based care (foster care, relative/kinship care and other home-based care) (see Supplementary data table S5.3) About 3 in 5 (61% or 27,700) children were aged 5–14 years (see Supplementary data table S5.5) disability status was known for 72% (32,500) of children in care, of whom 21% (9,700) had a disability (see Supplementary data table S5.8) The rate of children living in inner and outer regional (12 per 1,000) and remote and very remote (14 per 1,000) areas were more than twice that of those living in major cities (6.0 per 1,000) (see Supplementary data table S5.9) most (94% or 42,300) were on a care and protection order (see Supplementary data table S5.13).(Source: Child protection Australia 2022–23, Supporting children - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au)

It is vital that we keep joining the dots and putting this oft buried issues into the public square. 

As it has been said, trying to fix familial, intimate partner and child abuse and neglect without addressing the alcohol and other drug issue is simply using a mop whilst leaving the tap running.

It is way past time to #preventdontpromote drug use and promote children’s and women’s rights over the drug using public recreational demands!

Dalgarno Institute

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