SNAICC releases Family Matters Report finding flaws in Child Protection systems

Child protection systems in Australia continue to fail First Nations children and families, the latest edition of the annual Family Matters report from SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has found. 

The annual Family Matters report examines government actions to address the over-representation of First Nations children in the Child Protection system, and the outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in these systems. 

Family Matters Report 2024 finds that child protection systems continue to fail Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, exposing them to ongoing harm and trauma. 

Key findings of the report include: 

• there are 22,908 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care, which represents 41 per cent of all children in out-of-home care, despite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children making up only 6 per cent of the total child population in Australia 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 10.8 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children

• among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care: 

• 41 per cent are living with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander relatives or carers: 

• 32.2 per cent with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander relatives 

• 22.1 per cent with non-Indigenous relatives 

• 8.9 per cent with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers

• 26.9 per cent with non-Indigenous non-relative carers 

• 9 per cent in residential care

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 11.5 times more likely to be removed into out-of-home care as infants 

• only 15 per cent of government funding is spent on prevention, such as Family Support Services, the rest is spent on child protection and out-of-home care services 

• only 6 per cent of child protection funding is directed towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations. 

The report features three case studies from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations that demonstrate culturally safe, wraparound supports which help First Nations children to grow up healthy, strong and connected to culture and kin. 

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have the knowledge to lead service transition to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, but a significant challenge remains in ensuring that governments empower these communities and organisations to drive change,” report authors note. 

The recommendations from this year’s report focus on four key areas to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, namely:

• increase funding for ACCO-led prevention programs and establish national integrated early years services, ensuring families have access to quality, culturally safe supports 

• empower communities to control decisions affecting children by directing funding to ACCOs and implementing family-led decision-making models 

• end the adoption of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from out-of-home care and implement national standards for the Child Placement Principle 

• enhance accountability by creating peak bodies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in decision-making, establishing commissioners for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and improving data practices to better meet the needs of communities. 

SNAICC will host a webinar on Friday 6 December from 12pm – 1pm (AEDT) to discuss the report and its findings. 

The Family Matters Report 2024 and its accompanying data snapshot are available on the SNAICC website on the Family Matters page.