❓ Hon Stephen Dawson asks about the number of children in care reported missing, reporting timelines, and foster carer responsibilities. The Minister provides some data on absconding children but notes limitations in data collection.
AnsweredQoN 889Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT FOR CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT —
CHILDREN IN CARE OF CEO REPORTED MISSING
889. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Child Protection:
(1) How many
children in the care of the CEO of the Department for Child Protection and
Family Support have been reported missing by foster carers for the periods 2014
to date, 2013–14, 2012–13 and 2011–12?
(2) How many
children in the care of the CEO have been reported missing to police for the
same periods?
(3) How long does
a child have to be missing before a report is made to police?
(4) What are the requirements of a
foster carer to report a child missing to the department?
CHILDREN IN CARE OF CEO REPORTED MISSING
889. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Child Protection:
(1) How many
children in the care of the CEO of the Department for Child Protection and
Family Support have been reported missing by foster carers for the periods 2014
to date, 2013–14, 2012–13 and 2011–12?
(2) How many
children in the care of the CEO have been reported missing to police for the
same periods?
(3) How long does
a child have to be missing before a report is made to police?
(4) What are the requirements of a
foster carer to report a child missing to the department?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department for Child Protection and Family Support does not collect aggregated
data on children in the care of the CEO who are reported missing. However,
client records indicate that the number of children who absconded from their
placement in the following years were: 1 July 2014 to 31 August 2014, seven;
2013–14, 27; 2012–13, 48; and 2011–12, 37. These young
people may abscond for short periods due to a range of reasons, including
difficulties with peer relationships, conflict due to the rules and boundaries
set by caregivers, problems at school, a desire to see their family and
friends, and an inability to manage emotions in constructive ways. Children in
care may have experienced trauma prior to coming into care and this can lead to
greater difficulties than other children have, particularly in adolescence.
(2) This
information is included in individual case notes, but the department does not
systematically record this information.
(3) When a child
in the CEO's care has absconded or is missing, departmental officers
must make every effort to locate the child, and assess the circumstances and
level of risk to the child. A report is made to Western Australia Police within
24 hours if the child cannot be located. If there are high-risk circumstances—for
example, if it is a young child or a child with special needs such as a medical
condition that requires regular treatment—a report is made immediately.
(4) Foster carers
are to report a missing child to the department if the child is missing for any
period longer than one hour.
(1) The
Department for Child Protection and Family Support does not collect aggregated
data on children in the care of the CEO who are reported missing. However,
client records indicate that the number of children who absconded from their
placement in the following years were: 1 July 2014 to 31 August 2014, seven;
2013–14, 27; 2012–13, 48; and 2011–12, 37. These young
people may abscond for short periods due to a range of reasons, including
difficulties with peer relationships, conflict due to the rules and boundaries
set by caregivers, problems at school, a desire to see their family and
friends, and an inability to manage emotions in constructive ways. Children in
care may have experienced trauma prior to coming into care and this can lead to
greater difficulties than other children have, particularly in adolescence.
(2) This
information is included in individual case notes, but the department does not
systematically record this information.
(3) When a child
in the CEO's care has absconded or is missing, departmental officers
must make every effort to locate the child, and assess the circumstances and
level of risk to the child. A report is made to Western Australia Police within
24 hours if the child cannot be located. If there are high-risk circumstances—for
example, if it is a young child or a child with special needs such as a medical
condition that requires regular treatment—a report is made immediately.
(4) Foster carers
are to report a missing child to the department if the child is missing for any
period longer than one hour.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.