Yoorrook concerned by rise in rate of Victorian Aboriginal children in out-of-home care: new Closing the Gap report

The Yoorrook Justice Commission has expressed concern at new data revealing an increase in the rate of Aboriginal children living in out-of-home care in Victoria – which was already the worst performing state in the nation.

The Productivity Commission’s fourth annual Closing the Gap Data Compilation Report showed that the rate of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care in Victoria had increased from 102.2 children per 1,000 to 102.9 per 1,000 in the 12 months leading up to the end of the 2023 financial year.

This equates to more than 10 percent of Aboriginal children in Victoria and is nearly double the national average. Aboriginal children in Victoria are 22 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children.

Speaking about the child protection data, Yoorrook Deputy Chair, Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter said:

“Victoria’s child protection system isn’t broken; it’s working exactly as it was intended to based on the state’s colonial foundations, which decimated Aboriginal family structures and communities.

“New data from the Productivity Commission reinforces Yoorrook’s previous findings that Victoria’s child protection system is failing First Peoples and is in urgent need of reform.

“To see Victoria’s already deplorable rates of Aboriginal child removal get even worse is devastating for our people, and a dark stain on the moral conscience of society.

“We have to remember that every statistic is a person with a family; a child whose life has been decimated by the colonial system. Far too often engagement with the child protection system acts as a pipeline to youth justice and then the adult justice system.

“We know that when First Peoples have the power, control and resources to make decisions about the issues that affect our lives, we see positive change which benefits everyone.

“Yoorrook has previously made landmark recommendations to reform Victoria’s child protection system and deliver genuine self determination to our people, with a focus on early intervention and prevention. It is beyond time for action.

“In the coming months, Commissioners will have the opportunity to question key Ministers and government representatives about the progress – or lack of progress – the government is making to address systemic failings, including in relation to child protection.”

ENDS

Media enquiries: Evan Schuurman | [email protected] | 0408 847 385

Notes:

• The Yoorrook for Justice report is available for download here.