Question On Notice No. 2480 asked in the Legislative Council on 17 September 2019 by Hon Nick Goiran
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the position of the Advocate for Children in Care, and I ask:
(a) how many people have held the position of Advocate since its creation in 2006;
(b) what was the commencement date for the incumbent Advocate;
(c) what is the term of appointment of the incumbent Advocate; and
(d) how many children have contacted the Advocate in each calendar year from 2006?
Answered on 23 October 2019
(a) One
(b) February 2006
(c) The Advocate for Children in Care is a permanent employee of the Department of Communities.
(d) The table below shows the total number of referrals for each year, together with the numbers of self-referrals from children and young people in care themselves.
|
Year Referred
|
Total Referrals
|
Direct Self-Referrals
|
|
2006
|
136
|
17
|
|
2007
|
222
|
22
|
|
2008
|
282
|
19
|
|
2009
|
306
|
16
|
|
2010
|
383
|
15
|
|
2011
|
281
|
21
|
|
2012
|
294
|
17
|
|
2013
|
331
|
15
|
|
2014
|
279
|
26
|
|
2015
|
247
|
23
|
|
2016
|
291
|
24
|
|
2017
|
404
|
112
|
|
2018
|
625
|
372
|
The increase in numbers overall reflect the Advocate’s successful implementation of a computer-mediated self-interviewing program used by children and young people in care to express their individual views, concerns and wishes.
Please note that children and young people in care are generally contacted, consulted and included in any follow-up by the Advocate for Children in Care, irrespective of the source of the initial referral.