❓ Children in care—Whereabouts unknown 2. Hon Nick Goiran to the minister representing the Minister for Child Protection: I refer to the answer to my question without notice 1196 asked on 3 December 202
AnsweredQoN 2Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Children in care—Whereabouts unknown
2. Hon Nick Goiran to
the minister representing the Minister for Child
Protection:
I refer to the
answer to my question without notice 1196 asked on 3 December 2025.
(1)
Has the one child that the department reported to WA police as a missing person
been found?
(2)
Have the two children recorded as "unaccounted for, not in contact"
been found?
(3)
Are the whereabouts of the eight children recorded as "unaccounted for, in
contact" now known?
(4)
For how many days were the whereabouts of the 11 children unknown, and have
reports been received of any of the children being victims of crime during the
period they were unaccounted for?
(5)
How many children who are in the care of the CEO have their whereabouts
currently recorded as:
(a)
"unaccounted for, in contact";
(b)
"unaccounted for, not in contact"; and
(c)
"missing"?
2. Hon Nick Goiran to
the minister representing the Minister for Child
Protection:
I refer to the
answer to my question without notice 1196 asked on 3 December 2025.
(1)
Has the one child that the department reported to WA police as a missing person
been found?
(2)
Have the two children recorded as "unaccounted for, not in contact"
been found?
(3)
Are the whereabouts of the eight children recorded as "unaccounted for, in
contact" now known?
(4)
For how many days were the whereabouts of the 11 children unknown, and have
reports been received of any of the children being victims of crime during the
period they were unaccounted for?
(5)
How many children who are in the care of the CEO have their whereabouts
currently recorded as:
(a)
"unaccounted for, in contact";
(b)
"unaccounted for, not in contact"; and
(c)
"missing"?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following response has
been provided by the Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of
Communities advises the following as at 24 February 2026.
(1)
The whereabouts of the one young person is now known.
(2)
The whereabouts of the two young people are now known.
(3)
The whereabouts of seven of the young people are now known. The whereabouts of
one young person was known; however, the young person is currently
"unaccounted for, in contact".
(4) The period that the 11 young people's whereabouts
were unknown ranges between one day and 19 days. All reported or disclosed
allegations or incidents relating to a child in care being a victim of crime
are treated as a priority and investigated accordingly. These matters are
reported to the Department of Communities' senior leadership and the WA Police
Force as appropriate. In accordance with the Child Protection Guide, when
missing or unaccounted for children are located, child safety practitioners
engage and attempt to establish if they were a victim of crime and provide any
required supports.
(5)
There are:
(a)
13;
(b)
two; and
(c)
two.
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following response has
been provided by the Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of
Communities advises the following as at 24 February 2026.
(1)
The whereabouts of the one young person is now known.
(2)
The whereabouts of the two young people are now known.
(3)
The whereabouts of seven of the young people are now known. The whereabouts of
one young person was known; however, the young person is currently
"unaccounted for, in contact".
(4) The period that the 11 young people's whereabouts
were unknown ranges between one day and 19 days. All reported or disclosed
allegations or incidents relating to a child in care being a victim of crime
are treated as a priority and investigated accordingly. These matters are
reported to the Department of Communities' senior leadership and the WA Police
Force as appropriate. In accordance with the Child Protection Guide, when
missing or unaccounted for children are located, child safety practitioners
engage and attempt to establish if they were a victim of crime and provide any
required supports.
(5)
There are:
(a)
13;
(b)
two; and
(c)
two.
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