A parliamentary question regarding the abuse of children in foster care under the CEO's care in Western Australia, including statistics on gender, age, and Indigenous status. The Minister provides some data but requires more time to answer fully.

AnsweredQoN 189Legislative Council
Asked
1 May 2007
Portfolio
Child Protection

QuestionView source ↗

CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE - ABUSE
I refer to children in the chief executive officer’s care who have been abused whilst in foster care. (1) Have any children who are in the CEO’s care been abused whilst in foster care since September 2005? (2) If yes, how many? (3) How many are girls and what are their ages? (4) How many are boys and what are their ages? (5) How many are Aboriginal children compared with non-Aboriginal children? (6) Will the minister please state what type of foster care the children were in before the alleged abuse took place; for example, relative care? (7) Will the minister please state what type of abuse each one of them has reported? Hon SUE ELLERY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(1) Have any children who are in the CEO’s care been abused whilst in foster care since September 2005? (2) If yes, how many? (3) How many are girls and what are their ages? (4) How many are boys and what are their ages? (5) How many are Aboriginal children compared with non-Aboriginal children? (6) Will the minister please state what type of foster care the children were in before the alleged abuse took place; for example, relative care? (7) Will the minister please state what type of abuse each one of them has reported? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(2) If yes, how many? (3) How many are girls and what are their ages? (4) How many are boys and what are their ages? (5) How many are Aboriginal children compared with non-Aboriginal children? (6) Will the minister please state what type of foster care the children were in before the alleged abuse took place; for example, relative care? (7) Will the minister please state what type of abuse each one of them has reported? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(3) How many are girls and what are their ages? (4) How many are boys and what are their ages? (5) How many are Aboriginal children compared with non-Aboriginal children? (6) Will the minister please state what type of foster care the children were in before the alleged abuse took place; for example, relative care? (7) Will the minister please state what type of abuse each one of them has reported? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(4) How many are boys and what are their ages? (5) How many are Aboriginal children compared with non-Aboriginal children? (6) Will the minister please state what type of foster care the children were in before the alleged abuse took place; for example, relative care? (7) Will the minister please state what type of abuse each one of them has reported? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(5) How many are Aboriginal children compared with non-Aboriginal children? (6) Will the minister please state what type of foster care the children were in before the alleged abuse took place; for example, relative care? (7) Will the minister please state what type of abuse each one of them has reported? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(6) Will the minister please state what type of foster care the children were in before the alleged abuse took place; for example, relative care? (7) Will the minister please state what type of abuse each one of them has reported? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(7) Will the minister please state what type of abuse each one of them has reported? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I will let the member know now that we do not have the material available in answer to parts (6) and (7) of her question, but I intend to provide that to her tomorrow. However, I will provide the member with what we have been able to identify in the time since the question was lodged. (1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(1) Yes. (2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(2) It has been substantiated that 16 children in the CEO’s care have been abused while in foster care. (3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(3) There are eight girls. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children Younger than 1 1 4 2 9 1 11 1 14 2 15 1 (4) There are eight boys. The breakdown is outlined as follows - Age Number of children 1 1 4 1 5 2 6 2 8 1 9 1 (5) There are four Aboriginal and 12 non-Aboriginal children. (6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
(6)-(7) I indicated that I am unable to provide the response in the time frame. I will provide that response on Wednesday, 2 May. An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.
An important note to make about the information is that the data is from the April snapshot for the period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. Should this question be asked at a later date, the data is subject to change, as at any one time there may be a number of incidents alleged during the period specified that are still being investigated. Not all of these may subsequently become substantiated.

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