❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding the whereabouts of children in care previously reported as missing or unaccounted for. The Minister provides updated figures on the status of these children and addresses concerns about potential victimization.
AnsweredQoN 366Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Children in care—Whereabouts unknown
366. Hon Nick Goiran to
the minister representing the Minister for Child
Protection:
I refer to the
answer on 21 May 2025 to my question without notice 208.
(1) Has the one child that the department reported
to WA Police as a missing person been found?
(2) Have the five children recorded as
"unaccounted for—not in contact" been found?
(3) Are the whereabouts of the five children
recorded as "unaccounted for—in contact" now known?
(4) For how many days were the whereabouts of the
11 children unknown, and have any reports been received of the children being
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"?
366. Hon Nick Goiran to
the minister representing the Minister for Child
Protection:
I refer to the
answer on 21 May 2025 to my question without notice 208.
(1) Has the one child that the department reported
to WA Police as a missing person been found?
(2) Have the five children recorded as
"unaccounted for—not in contact" been found?
(3) Are the whereabouts of the five children
recorded as "unaccounted for—in contact" now known?
(4) For how many days were the whereabouts of the
11 children unknown, and have any reports been received of the children being
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 member
for some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by
the Minister for Child Protection. The Department of Communities advises the
following as at 17 June 2025.
(1) The whereabouts of the one young person is now
known.
(2) The whereabouts of the five young people are
now known.
(3) The whereabouts of three of the five young
people are now known. One of the young people remains "unaccounted for—in
contact", and one has been reported as "missing".
(4) The period the 11 young people's whereabouts
were unknown, varied between one day and 75 days. All reported or disclosed
allegations or incidents relating to a child in care being a victim of crime
are treated as a priority and investigated accordingly. Providing this
information requires a significant diversion of resources to crosscheck
individual case files to ensure no matters were reported following the period of
each child being unaccounted for. This diversion is not deemed an appropriate
use of frontline resources and may identify an individual child in care.
(5) There are:
(a) seven;
(b) two; and
(c) three.
for some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by
the Minister for Child Protection. The Department of Communities advises the
following as at 17 June 2025.
(1) The whereabouts of the one young person is now
known.
(2) The whereabouts of the five young people are
now known.
(3) The whereabouts of three of the five young
people are now known. One of the young people remains "unaccounted for—in
contact", and one has been reported as "missing".
(4) The period the 11 young people's whereabouts
were unknown, varied between one day and 75 days. All reported or disclosed
allegations or incidents relating to a child in care being a victim of crime
are treated as a priority and investigated accordingly. Providing this
information requires a significant diversion of resources to crosscheck
individual case files to ensure no matters were reported following the period of
each child being unaccounted for. This diversion is not deemed an appropriate
use of frontline resources and may identify an individual child in care.
(5) There are:
(a) seven;
(b) two; and
(c) three.
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