❓ Hon Nick Goiran asks about the number of children in the care of the Department of Communities and how many are homeless, referencing an ABC article highlighting child protection failures. The Minister provides the number of children in care but states all have access to care arrangements, acknowledging some self-select accommodation.
AnsweredQoN 479Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
COMMUNITIES — CHILDREN IN CARE AND HOMELESS
STATISTICS
479. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the article published by
the ABC on 8 May 2024 entitled ''Homeless teenage girl avoids penalty
for stealing water as Kimberley court spotlights WA child protection failures''
and Magistrate Potter's remarks that ''her case was reflective
of many children in the region who appeared before the courts''.
(1) How many children are in the
care of the Department of Communities?
(2) How many are homeless?
STATISTICS
479. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the minister representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the article published by
the ABC on 8 May 2024 entitled ''Homeless teenage girl avoids penalty
for stealing water as Kimberley court spotlights WA child protection failures''
and Magistrate Potter's remarks that ''her case was reflective
of many children in the region who appeared before the courts''.
(1) How many children are in the
care of the Department of Communities?
(2) How many are homeless?
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) As of 30 April 2024, 5 310
children were in the care of the CEO.
(2) All children in care have access to care
arrangements. In some circumstances, young people will self-select their
accommodation and may be unwilling to disclose their living arrangements. When
a young person self-selects their accommodation, they continue to have access
to the same supports that would be made available
to them if they were residing in an approved care arrangement. Communities will
always prioritise efforts to engage young people who have chosen to
leave their placement and will support their safe return to their planned
placement.
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) As of 30 April 2024, 5 310
children were in the care of the CEO.
(2) All children in care have access to care
arrangements. In some circumstances, young people will self-select their
accommodation and may be unwilling to disclose their living arrangements. When
a young person self-selects their accommodation, they continue to have access
to the same supports that would be made available
to them if they were residing in an approved care arrangement. Communities will
always prioritise efforts to engage young people who have chosen to
leave their placement and will support their safe return to their planned
placement.
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