Shock numbers for kids in 'out of home' care

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p2262-kids-2By ERWIN CHLANDA
 
The Territory leads the nation in statistics of children who are in “out of home care” and Central Australia is massively ahead within the Territory.
 
On June 30 there were 1005 Territory children in out of home care who had orders under the Care and Protection of Children Act.
 
Of these, 315 children were in the Central Australia region, 292 were in the Katherine and Northern Remote region and 398 were in the Greater Darwin Region.
 
That means The Centre, with 20% of the NT’s population, has 30% of NT children who are in care.
 
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2014 there were 908 NT children in care, 10% fewer than now.
 
The institute reports a national average of 8.1 children per 1000 in 2014.
 
The NT’s figure was 14.3, which was at least double the corresponding figures for Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA and the ACT.
 
The per 1000 figure in the NT rose from 8.8 in 2010 with a big jump from 11.6 in 2013 to 14.3 in 2014.
 
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in the Territory indigenous children are eight times as likely to be in care than non-indigenous children. The corresponding national figure is nine times as likely.
 
 

2 COMMENTS

  1. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
    It’s unfortunately the same for some of the Aboriginal people.
    You can spend millions and help them all the way but if they don’t care about them selves or their kids then it’s a waste of time.
    Which is odd as they pride them selves on being a very family orientated people, but all to often some end up being selfish.
    Sad, especially for the kids that are stuck in that environment and will grow up thinking it’s the norm, and continuing the chain.

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