Policy context

Child Protection is the prevention of, and response to, exploitation, abuse, neglect, harmful practices and violence against children. It is embedded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals.¹ When children cannot live safely at home, child protection systems prioritise children’s physical, mental and psychosocial needs to safeguard their lives and futures.²

In Australia, state and territory governments are responsible for statutory child protection. Relevant departments support vulnerable children:

• who have been, or are at risk of being, abused, neglected or otherwise harmed

• whose parents are unable to provide adequate care or protection.³

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) publishes the Child Protection Australia report⁴ on an annual basis. This report compiles data from state and territory child protection agencies. Data is only available at state or territory level with no further disaggregation.