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The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's Child Protection Australia report indicates that in 2005–06 there were almost 10,000 more substantiated cases of child abuse than in 2004–05.
Read the Child protection Australia 2005–06 report (PDF).
Details of report
According to the statistics, the number of substantiated cases of child abuse – where there was reasonable cause to believe children had or would be harmed – rose from 46,1534 in 2004–05, to 55,291 in 2005–06.
The most common form of abuse was emotional, followed by neglect and physical abuse. The report also stated that, over the past five years, the number of Australian children cared for out of home has increased by 40 per cent.
As of 30 June 2006, children in out-of-home care are living:
- in foster care (53%)
- with relatives (41%)
- in residential care (4%).
Indigenous children
The quality of data varies from state and territory, but Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were greatly over-represented in the child protection statistics.
In comparison to other Australian children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were:
- nearly five times as likely to be the subject of a substantiated child abuse claim
- more than seven times as likely to be in out-of-home care.
Reasons for increase of cases
Deidre Penhaligon, from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's Children, Youth and Families Unit indicated that the increase of substantiated cases was largely to do with:
'a greater community awareness of child abuse and neglect, but also to the cumulative effect of children entering the system at a young age and remaining on care and protection orders for longer periods.
'Some of this increase reflects jurisdictional changes in child protection policies and practices but is also an indication of increased public and media awareness of child protection concerns and the willingness to report these to the authorities'
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's press release is available online.
Community response
Adam Blakester, CEO of the National Association for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect, responded to the report by calling for a comprehensive national study, saying that an indication of greater awareness does not equal an improvement in prevention.
'In the same way that we have established tidy towns, for example, right across Australia, we need to be building child-friendly towns, child-friendly cities, child-friendly suburbs-places where everybody plays a part supporting children and families'
Visit the National Association for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect website.
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