❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the whereabouts of children in care, revealing that while four previously unaccounted for children were located, some have re-absconded. It also provides current figures for children in different 'unaccounted for' and 'missing' categories.
AnsweredQoN 1238Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILDREN IN CARE —
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
1238. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the minister's
answer on 13 September 2023 to my question without notice 1042.
(1) Have all four
children recorded in the placement type ''unaccounted for—not in
contact'' been found?
(2) Were any of these children
reported to the Western Australia Police Force as a missing person?
(3) For how many days was the
whereabouts of each child unknown?
(4) 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?
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
1238. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the minister's
answer on 13 September 2023 to my question without notice 1042.
(1) Have all four
children recorded in the placement type ''unaccounted for—not in
contact'' been found?
(2) Were any of these children
reported to the Western Australia Police Force as a missing person?
(3) For how many days was the
whereabouts of each child unknown?
(4) 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 member for some notice
of the question. I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for
Agriculture and Food who represents the Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of Communities
advises the following.
(1) Yes, all four were located.
(2) Yes, one child.
(3) The number of days the whereabouts of each child
was unknown was: two days; three days; 10 days before further
absconding, currently recorded as unaccounted for—not in contact; and
five days before further absconding, currently recorded as missing.
(4) Children and
young people may move between living arrangements, which are 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 nomenclature regarding missing children that includes 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. As at 10 October 2023 —
(a) seven
children are unaccounted for—in contact;
(b) two children
are unaccounted for—not in contact; and
(c) two children
are missing.
of the question. I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for
Agriculture and Food who represents the Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of Communities
advises the following.
(1) Yes, all four were located.
(2) Yes, one child.
(3) The number of days the whereabouts of each child
was unknown was: two days; three days; 10 days before further
absconding, currently recorded as unaccounted for—not in contact; and
five days before further absconding, currently recorded as missing.
(4) Children and
young people may move between living arrangements, which are 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 nomenclature regarding missing children that includes 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. As at 10 October 2023 —
(a) seven
children are unaccounted for—in contact;
(b) two children
are unaccounted for—not in contact; and
(c) two children
are missing.
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