❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the whereabouts of children in care, specifically those listed as missing or unaccounted for, and the steps taken to ensure their safety and investigate potential crimes against them.
AnsweredQoN 1503Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILDREN IN CARE —
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
1503. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the answer to question
without notice 1384.
(1) Has the one
child that the department reported to Western Australia Police Force as a missing
person been found?
(2) Have the three children
recorded as ''unaccounted for—not in contact'' been
found?
(3) Have the
eight children recorded as ''unaccounted for—not in contact''
been found?
(4) For how
many days were the whereabouts of the 12 children unknown and what steps has
the department taken to ascertain whether any were victims of crime during this
period?
(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?
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
1503. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the answer to question
without notice 1384.
(1) Has the one
child that the department reported to Western Australia Police Force as a missing
person been found?
(2) Have the three children
recorded as ''unaccounted for—not in contact'' been
found?
(3) Have the
eight children recorded as ''unaccounted for—not in contact''
been found?
(4) For how
many days were the whereabouts of the 12 children unknown and what steps has
the department taken to ascertain whether any were victims of crime during this
period?
(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. There following response has been provided by the
Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of Communities has
provided the following advice, as at 12 November 2024.
(1) Yes, and the child is now listed
as unaccounted for—in contact.
(2) Two of the young persons' whereabouts are
now known. The other remains unaccounted for—not in contact.
(3) Two of the
young persons' whereabouts are now known. Four of the young persons'
whereabouts were known and are again listed
as unaccounted for—in contact. Two young people remain listed as
unaccounted for—in contact.
(4) Of those who were unaccounted for—in
contact, it was one and six days. Four young people's whereabouts were known after one, two, four and six days and are again listed as
unaccounted for—in contact. Two young people remain listed for eight
and 23 days.
Of those who were unaccounted for—not
in contact, it was eight days and 14 days. One young person remains listed for
20 days.
Of those who were listed as missing,
it is five days.
If an incident has occurred whilst a child
in care has been listed as missing or unaccounted for, appropriate supports are provided to the young person and
these matters are reported to the Department of Communities' senior leadership and the WA Police Force as appropriate. Any allegation or
incident relating to a child in care being a victim of crime is treated as a priority
and investigated accordingly.
(5) (a) It is 11;
(b) four; and
(c) nil.
some notice of the question. There following response has been provided by the
Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of Communities has
provided the following advice, as at 12 November 2024.
(1) Yes, and the child is now listed
as unaccounted for—in contact.
(2) Two of the young persons' whereabouts are
now known. The other remains unaccounted for—not in contact.
(3) Two of the
young persons' whereabouts are now known. Four of the young persons'
whereabouts were known and are again listed
as unaccounted for—in contact. Two young people remain listed as
unaccounted for—in contact.
(4) Of those who were unaccounted for—in
contact, it was one and six days. Four young people's whereabouts were known after one, two, four and six days and are again listed as
unaccounted for—in contact. Two young people remain listed for eight
and 23 days.
Of those who were unaccounted for—not
in contact, it was eight days and 14 days. One young person remains listed for
20 days.
Of those who were listed as missing,
it is five days.
If an incident has occurred whilst a child
in care has been listed as missing or unaccounted for, appropriate supports are provided to the young person and
these matters are reported to the Department of Communities' senior leadership and the WA Police Force as appropriate. Any allegation or
incident relating to a child in care being a victim of crime is treated as a priority
and investigated accordingly.
(5) (a) It is 11;
(b) four; and
(c) nil.
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