Question On Notice No. 611 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 March 2022 by Hon Nick Goiran
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Question
(1) How many children are
currently in, out of home care?
(2) How many sibling groups are
in, out of home care?
(3) How many individual children
from (2) are in a placement that does not include all of their siblings
who are also in, out of home care?
(4) How many children from (3) are Aboriginal?
(5) How many children from (1)
have been assessed at each Needs Assessment Tool (NAT) level?
(6) How many children from (4)
have been assessed at each NAT level?
Answered on 10 May 2022
As at 31 March 2022:
(1) 5,144.
(2) 1,356.
(3) 1,286. Sibling groups are based on the children in care being recorded in the same family group -which could include half-siblings. This further impacts the reasons why all siblings are not together. Other considerations are:
- One older sibling may be placed at the time in detention, boarding school, hospital or self-selecting where to live.
- In some instances, a child will be with a parent for reunification whilst the other siblings are in a different placement.
- Many are in specialised foster care or residential care placements due to their complex needs.
- The age of the child may have an impact on placement options e.g. school age vs baby or toddler.
(4) 772.
(5)
NAT level 1
|
NAT level 2
|
NAT level 3
|
NAT level 4
|
NAT level 5
|
Children who have not had their first NAT approved
|
2,079
|
1,098
|
1,061
|
517
|
211
|
178
|
(6)
NAT level 1
|
NAT level 2
|
NAT level 3
|
NAT level 4
|
NAT level 5
|
Aboriginal children who have not had their first NAT approved
|
257
|
148
|
172
|
119
|
62
|
14
|