Child care and protection Australia, 2001-2002
Number of children (0-17 years) in Australia on care and protection orders:
1997: 15,718
2002: 20,557 (4.3 children per 1,000)
Number of children in out-of-home care:
1997: 14,078
2002: 18,880 (3.9 children per 1,000)
Number of child protection notifications in Australia:
1999-00: 107,134
2001-02: 137,938
Number of substantiations in Australia:
1999-00: 24,732
2001-02: 30,473
Figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicated a 'continuing upward trend Australia-wide in the numbers of children on care and protection orders, and the numbers in out-of-home care'. The report further shows that Indigenous children were over-represented in the child protection system, with the rate of Indigenous children on care and protection orders and in out-of-home care 'around six times the rate for other Australian children'.