Question On Notice No. 451 asked in the Legislative Council on 31 October 2017 by Hon Colin De Grussa
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
In relation to the number of children in the care of the Department of Child Protection and Family Support as at this date:
(a) what number of children are currently in the CEO’s care in each region of Western Australia:
(i) Kimberley;
(ii) Pilbara;
(iii) Gascoyne;
(iv) Mid West;
(v) Wheatbelt;
(vi) Goldfields-Esperance;
(vii) Peel;
(viii) South West;
(ix) Great Southern; and
(x) Metropolitan;
(b) what was the number of children in the CEO’s care in each region of Western Australia in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 to date;
(c) what percentage of children currently in the care of the CEO in each region of Western Australia have been under State care for:
(i) under 12 months;
(ii) more than 12 months; and
(iii) more than 24 months;
(d) what percentage of children currently in the care of the CEO in each region of Western Australia are Aboriginal; and
(e) how do the figures in (d) compare with the years 2015, 2016 an 2017 to date?
Answered on 5 December 2017
(a) - (d)
There were 4 809 children in CEO’s care on 30 September 2017 of which 2 620 were Aboriginal (54 per cent). The number of children by region was as follows:
• East Kimberley - 163 total, 163 Aboriginal, 100 per cent;
• West Kimberley - 171 total, 170 Aboriginal, 99 per cent;
• Pilbara - 201 total, 190 Aboriginal, 95 per cent;
• Murchison - 247 total, 199 Aboriginal, 81 per cent;
• Wheatbelt - 269 total, 171 Aboriginal, 64 per cent;
• Goldfields - 150 total, 121 Aboriginal, 81 per cent;
• Peel - 242 total, 66 Aboriginal, 27 per cent;
• South West - 329 total, 129 Aboriginal, 39 per cent;
• Great Southern - 183 total, 101 Aboriginal, 55 per cent; and
• Metropolitan – 2,854 total, 1,310 Aboriginal, 46 per cent.
(b) - (e)
On 30 June 2015 there were 4 503 children in CEO’s care of which 2 338 were Aboriginal (52 per cent). The number of children by region was as follows:
• East Kimberley – 144 total, 144 Aboriginal, 100 per cent;
• West Kimberley – 198 total, 195 Aboriginal, 98 per cent;
• Pilbara – 211 total, 204 Aboriginal, 97 per cent;
• Murchison – 198 total, 142 Aboriginal, 72 per cent;
• Wheatbelt – 240 total, 129 Aboriginal, 54 per cent;
• Goldfields – 158 total, 135 Aboriginal, 85 per cent;
• Peel – 190 total, 41 Aboriginal, 22 per cent;
• South West – 291 total, 103 Aboriginal, 35 per cent;
• Great Southern – 185 total, 99 Aboriginal, 54 per cent; and
• Metropolitan – 2,688 total, 1,146 Aboriginal, 43 per cent.
On 30 June 2016 there were 4 658 children in CEO’s care of which 2 480 were Aboriginal (53 per cent). The number of children by region was as follows:
• East Kimberley – 158 total, 158 Aboriginal, 100 per cent;
• West Kimberley – 190 total, 189 Aboriginal, 99 per cent;
• Pilbara – 211 total, 202 Aboriginal, 96 per cent;
• Murchison – 249 total, 190 Aboriginal, 76 per cent;
• Wheatbelt – 243 total, 142 Aboriginal, 58 per cent;
• Goldfields – 126 total, 107 Aboriginal, 85 per cent;
• Peel – 226 total, 54 Aboriginal, 24 per cent;
• South West – 311 total, 129 Aboriginal, 41 per cent;
• Great Southern – 199 total, 110 Aboriginal, 55 per cent; and
• Metropolitan – 2,745 total, 1,199 Aboriginal, 44 per cent.
(c)
On 30 September 2017 there were 4,809 children in the CEO’s care of which 16 per cent have been in care for under 12 months, 15 per cent between 12 and 24 months and 69 per cent greater than 24 months. These children by region and proportion by length of time in care is as follows:
• East Kimberley – 21 per cent under 12 months, 20 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 59 per cent greater than 24 months;
• West Kimberley – 18 per cent under 12 months, 13 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 69 per cent greater than 24 months;
• Pilbara – 16 per cent under 12 months, 14 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 70 per cent greater than 24 months;
• Murchison – 12 per cent under 12 months, 23 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 65 per cent greater than 24 months;
• Wheatbelt – 19 per cent under 12 months, 13 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 68 per cent greater than 24 months;
• Goldfields – 16 per cent under 12 months, 14 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 70 per cent greater than 24 months;
• Peel – 14 per cent under 12 months, 17 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 69 per cent greater than 24 months;
• South West – 20 per cent under 12 months, 9 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 71 per cent greater than 24 months;
• Great Southern – 9 per cent under 12 months, 18 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 73 per cent greater than 24 months; and
Metropolitan – 16 per cent under 12 months, 14 per cent between 12 and 24 months, 70 per cent greater than 24 months.