As the Australian consumer peak for children in care, the CREATE Foundation welcomes the Queensland Government’s announcement of a Commission of Inquiry into the child safety system.
We are deeply concerned about the safety and experiences of children in care, and we are troubled by the 240% increase in the number of children and young people living in residential care in Queensland over the last decade.
Children and young people deserve systems that prioritise their wellbeing. Their voices and experiences must be central to this inquiry and we commend the courage and leadership of children and young people who have shared their experiences and raised their concerns over many years leading up to this inquiry.
We support an open and robust inquiry to ensure whole-of-government reform, and to shape systems that deliver safe, responsive and supportive environments for every child and young person in care.
Quotes attributable to CREATE Foundation CEO, Imogen Edeson: “This inquiry could really reset the system and catalyse change in Queensland. The Commission of Inquiry should listen deeply to children and young people, as the experts on their own experiences and on what’s working and what’s not in the child safety system. It will be critical for Government to act on what kids tell us and implement the findings of the inquiry. If this inquiry can achieve ambitious and lasting reform, it would make Queensland a much safer place to be a kid in care.”
See CREATE’s Advocacy Priorities for more on how we’re working with young people to push for improvements to the systems impacting their lives. Our Advocacy – CREATE Foundation.
CREATE Foundation is the national consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. We provide programs to children and young people with a statutory care experience. We listen to what those with a lived experience of the care system tell us, and advocate with and for them to achieve systemic change. CREATE is a national leader in child and youth participation in Australia, bringing 25 years of child voice and participation expertise.
*ENDS*
For further comment from CREATE’s CEO, Imogen Edeson, contact Erin Laing erin.laing@create.org.au
Key statistics on out-of-home care in Australia
- There are currently around 45,393 children and young people in out-of-home (OOHC) care nationally (AIHW, 2023).
- As of 30 June 2022, of the 45,393 children and young people in out of home care, 19,432 identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (AIHW, 2023).
- Nationwide, only 67.5% of children and young people in care feel they could have a say ‘reasonably often’ and 15.7% reported that they rarely or never had a say (McDowall, 2018).
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Child protection Australia 2021–22. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2021-22
McDowall, J. J. (2018). Out-of-home care in Australia: Children and young people’s views after five years of National Standards. CREATE Foundation.
