CHILDREN IN CARE — WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
586. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the answer to question
without notice 531 answered on 15 June 2022.
(1) Have the eight children recorded
in the placement type ''unknown'' been found?
(2) For how many days have each of
the eight children had their whereabouts recorded as unknown?
(3) Has the one child reported to
the Western Australia Police Force as a missing person been found?
(4) How many children who are in the
care of the CEO have their whereabouts currently recorded as —
(a) a missing person;
(b) not in contact with caseworkers;
or
(c) unable to be supported by the
Department of Communities?
(5) Further to (4), how many have
been reported to WA Police as a missing person?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The term ''whereabouts
unknown'' or language such as ''found'' may lead to the
assumption that every child with a placement
type of ''unknown'' is a missing person, not in contact with
caseworkers and unable to be supported by the Department of Communities.
This is incorrect. While a child is recorded in a placement type ''Unknown—in
contact'', or the young person is unwilling to disclose their location,
they are still in contact with their caseworker or other safety networks that
keep in contact with them. Every child still has access to the same supports that
would be made available to them if they were residing in an endorsed placement.
(1)–(3) All
the children referred to on 15 June 2022 are no longer recorded in a placement
type ''Unknown—in contact''.
(4)–(5) As of 9 August 2022, there are currently two children
recorded in placement type ''Unknown—in contact'';
and two children recorded as ''missing
child''. Both have been reported to the Western Australia Police Force.