CHILDREN
IN CARE — WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
1067. Hon
NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for
Child Protection:
I refer to the answer to question
without notice 905, answered on 13 October 2022.
(1) Has the child recorded as a missing
person been found?
(2) If yes to (1), for how many days
was the child recorded as missing?
(3) If no to (1), for how many days
has the child been recorded as missing?
(4) How many children who are in the
care of the CEO have their whereabouts currently recorded as —
(a) a missing person; or
(b) ''unknown—in
contact''?
(5) Further to (4), how many have
been reported to the Western Australia Police Force 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's or young person's
placement type. A child is recorded in a placement type ''unknown—in
contact'' if the 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 Western Australia 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)–(3) This
child is now recorded as ''unknown—in contact''. They had
been recorded as a ''missing child'' for 16 days.
(4) (a) There is one.
(b) There are three.
(5) There is one.