The Commission for Children and Young People has found systemic childhood education failings within the child protection system under the Allan Labor Government.
The inquiry into the educational experiences of children and young people in out-of-home care found “disparities in educational outcomes that are as stark as they are shameful”.
It also found “across every measure, children in care are worse off” and the poor educational outcomes for children in care are related to the “persistent strain on the child protection system and its crisis-driven approach”.
In 2019, the Commission exposed the consequences of Labor’s under-resourced child protection system and the need for investment in prevention and early intervention to keep families together.
Yet this inquiry showed the warnings were largely ignored with the report finding:
• a 13 per cent increase in the number of children and young people in care as of December 2022.
• an over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people in the care system remains, with a 21 per cent increase.
• an 83 per cent rise in the number of children aged nine to 11 in residential care.
• a 33 per cent increase in children aged six to eight in residential care.
• a 10 per cent decline in foster care placements.
• only 25 per cent of students in care reach Year 12.
Furthermore, child protection worker turnover rates have worsened while the proportion of children and young people without an allocated worker and case managed by Child Protection increased by 19 per cent.
Shadow Minister for Child Protection, Roma Britnell, said: “The importance of education for children and young people in care is paramount to combat disadvantage and provide a pathway to a secure and safe future. Under Labor, our most vulnerable children are being denied their right to a strong education.
“Sadly, most children in residential care are not being supported to engage in education and current funding levels for educational supports are not sufficient.
“Labor has ignored the warnings of failures in the child protection system resulting in the shameful lack of education for children in its care.”
