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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 754 asked in the Legislative Council on 31 August 2022 by Hon Nick Goiran

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CHILDREN IN CARE — WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN

754. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection:

I refer to the minister's answer to question without notice 586 answered on 9 August 2022.

(1) Have the two children recorded in the placement type ''unknown—in contact'' been found?

(2) Have the other two children reported to the Western Australia Police Force as missing persons been found?

(3) For how many days did each of the four children have their whereabouts recorded as unknown or missing?

(4) How many children who are in the care of the CEO have their whereabouts currently recorded as —

(a) a missing child; or

(b) ''unknown—in contact''?

(5) Further to (4)(a), 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. Children and young people may move between living arrangements, which are recorded by case management in the child or young person's placement type. A child is recorded in a placement type ''unknown—in contact'' when a young person is unwilling to disclose their location but is still in contact with their caseworker or other safety networks who keep in contact with them. If the child cannot be located or contacted, they are recorded in placement type ''missing child'' and a missing person's report is submitted to the WA Police Force. Every child still has access to the same supports that would be made available to them if they were residing in their approved placement.

(1) Yes.

(2) One child has been located and the other has had their placement type updated to ''unknown—in contact''.

(3) They were recorded as unknown for 27 days and 15 days. For the placement type ''missing'', they were previously recorded as missing for 18 days and are now recorded as ''unknown—in contact'' for five days and 19 days.

(4) (a) No children.

(b) Four children.

(5) Not applicable.