❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the whereabouts of children in care, specifically those recorded as 'unaccounted for' or 'missing'. The Minister provides updates on the status of these children and the collaboration between the Department of Communities and WA Police.
AnsweredQoN 824Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILDREN IN CARE —
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
824. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the answer to my question
without notice 623 on 14 June 2023.
(1) Have the four children recorded
in the placement type ''unaccounted for—not in contact''
been found?
(2) For how many days was each
located child recorded as missing?
(3) For how many days has each
remaining child been recorded as missing?
(4) How many of the four children
were reported to the WA Police Force as a missing person?
(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; or
(c) missing?
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
824. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the answer to my question
without notice 623 on 14 June 2023.
(1) Have the four children recorded
in the placement type ''unaccounted for—not in contact''
been found?
(2) For how many days was each
located child recorded as missing?
(3) For how many days has each
remaining child been recorded as missing?
(4) How many of the four children
were reported to the WA Police Force as a missing person?
(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; or
(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 as at 8 August 2023 that children and young people may move between
living arrangements and this is recorded by case management in the child or
young person's placement type. Many of
these children are teenagers. Every child still has access to the same supports
that would be made available to them if they were residing in their
approved placement. Communities and the WA Police Force work to contact and
locate the young person and ensure their safety. Communities and the WA Police
Force have aligned their nomenclature regarding missing children, which
included updating the previous placement type of ''unknown—in
contact'' and ''missing children'' with the following
placement types: unaccounted for—in contact; unaccounted for—not
in contact; and missing.
(1) Yes, one child has further
absconded and is currently recorded as unaccounted for—in contact.
(2)–(3) As at 14 June 2023,
one child was recorded as missing for three days.
(4) One of the four children was reported
as a missing person.
(5) (a) Four.
(b)–(c) None.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of Communities
advises as at 8 August 2023 that children and young people may move between
living arrangements and this is recorded by case management in the child or
young person's placement type. Many of
these children are teenagers. Every child still has access to the same supports
that would be made available to them if they were residing in their
approved placement. Communities and the WA Police Force work to contact and
locate the young person and ensure their safety. Communities and the WA Police
Force have aligned their nomenclature regarding missing children, which
included updating the previous placement type of ''unknown—in
contact'' and ''missing children'' with the following
placement types: unaccounted for—in contact; unaccounted for—not
in contact; and missing.
(1) Yes, one child has further
absconded and is currently recorded as unaccounted for—in contact.
(2)–(3) As at 14 June 2023,
one child was recorded as missing for three days.
(4) One of the four children was reported
as a missing person.
(5) (a) Four.
(b)–(c) None.
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