A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the whereabouts of children in care, specifically those unaccounted for or missing, and the Department's reporting procedures to WA Police. The Minister provides specific numbers and timeframes.

AnsweredQoN 101Legislative Council
Asked
12 March 2024
Portfolio
Child Protection

QuestionView source ↗

CHILDREN IN CARE — WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
101. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the
answer to my question without notice on 27 February 2024.
(1) Have the two
children recorded in the unaccounted for—not in contact placement type
been found?
(2) For how many
days were the whereabouts of the two children unknown?
(3) Has the
department reported either child to WA police as a missing person?
(4) If yes to (3),
how many days after they were first unaccounted for did this occur?
(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; or
(c) missing?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
honourable 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 12 March 2024.
(1) Yes.
(2) They were
recorded as missing for four and 10 days.
(3) No.
(4) Not
applicable.
(5) (a) It was
three children;
(b) three children;
and
(c) one child.

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