Source: Commission for Children and Young People 

The Child Guardian Report 2006 has revealed Indigenous children in out-of-home care are over-represented in the number of serious concerns raised about their quality of care.

The report, released by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, reports on children and young people in the child safety system in Queensland.

The Commission's Community Visitor Program regularly visits these children and young people.

In 2006, 30% of serious issues raised by Community Visitors (CVs) about Indigenous children related to those aged 0 to four, compared to only 15% of serious issues raised about non-Indigenous children in the same age group.

Commissioner, Elizabeth Fraser, said although advocacy on these issues brought immediate improvements for individuals, the figures highlight the need for better reach of services to improve the quality of care for Indigenous children at risk of harm.

"We need to do more than just raise awareness about this over-representation; we have to highlight what services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people need further attention or resources," Ms Fraser said.

"The Commission's Indigenous Child Placement Principle project, to be published later this year, will further highlight service needs."

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people represent 6.3% of all under 18s in Queensland, but at 30 June 2006, 25.5% of children and young people in out-of-home care were Indigenous, up from 23% in 2005 and 22% in 2004.

In general, the Child Guardian Report 2006 revealed the issue identified most often by all children in care was greater support from the Department of Child Safety.

In addition, they continue to say they want more contact with their families and more say in decisions affecting them.

"I'm pleased these children are using our Community Visitors to help express their views to the Department of Child Safety," the Commissioner said.

It is heartening that this year's report shows a substantial improvement in the overall level of support provided to children in care over the past year.

Although the level of support by departmental officers is still the issue that is most commonly reported as requiring follow-up, concerns have decreased since 2005 from 21.93% to 9.75%.

Importantly, in only 0.74% of visits made by Community Visitors in 2006 were there any serious concerns about the safety of the children and young people being visited.

Since the expansion of the Community Visitor Program in 2004, the Commission has been able to assess the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in out-of-home care.

This information is fed back into the child protection system to achieve both individual and system-wide outcomes for children.

The Child Guardian Report 2006 also shows there have been positive changes in the child protection system since the first report was released 12 months ago.

The Commissioner said the Department of Child Safety has decreased the number of outstanding Investigation and Assessments (IAs) across the state, and has improved approval processes for foster and kinship carers (including requiring blue cards).

"I'd also like to commend the Government over the introduction of the new 'Early Years Centres' and the Referral for Active Intervention service model introduced last year," Ms Fraser said.

The report can be viewed at www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/about/publications/childGuardian2006.html or for a copy phone 1800 688 275.