❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding discrepancies in reported numbers of missing children in care. The Minister clarifies the data collection timelines and provides updated figures.
AnsweredQoN 1042Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILDREN IN CARE —
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
1042. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the inconsistent answers
to my questions without notice 623 and 824 on 14 June and 10 August 2023.
(1) Does the
minister recall that on 10 August she informed the house that as at 14 June 2023,
one child was recorded as missing for three days?
(2) Does the
minister recall that on 14 June she informed the house that no child was
recorded as missing?
(3) Which answer is inaccurate?
(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
1042. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the inconsistent answers
to my questions without notice 623 and 824 on 14 June and 10 August 2023.
(1) Does the
minister recall that on 10 August she informed the house that as at 14 June 2023,
one child was recorded as missing for three days?
(2) Does the
minister recall that on 14 June she informed the house that no child was
recorded as missing?
(3) Which answer is inaccurate?
(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 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.
(1)–(3) At
the time the answers were provided, both answers were accurate. Question
without notice 623 was answered on 14 June 2023
using information as at 13 June 2023. The response to question without notice 824
was answered on 10 August 2023 using information as at 14 June 2023.
(4) Children and
young people may move between living arrangements, which are recorded by case
management in the child's or young person's placement type.
Many of the 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 to 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.
Communities advises as at 12 September
2023 —
(a) three children were unaccounted
for—in contact;
(b) four children were unaccounted
for—not in contact; and
(c) no children were missing.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Child Protection.
The Department of Communities
advises the following.
(1)–(3) At
the time the answers were provided, both answers were accurate. Question
without notice 623 was answered on 14 June 2023
using information as at 13 June 2023. The response to question without notice 824
was answered on 10 August 2023 using information as at 14 June 2023.
(4) Children and
young people may move between living arrangements, which are recorded by case
management in the child's or young person's placement type.
Many of the 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 to 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.
Communities advises as at 12 September
2023 —
(a) three children were unaccounted
for—in contact;
(b) four children were unaccounted
for—not in contact; and
(c) no children were missing.
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