Indigenous children have been "let down for another 12 months," according to the national peak body for First Nations children, following the release of new government data showing no improvement in child protection outcomes.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2023–24 report reveals that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be vastly overrepresented in out-of-home care (OOHC). As of June 30, 2024, 25,000 of the 59,900 children on care and protection orders were Indigenous.
The rate of Indigenous children under such orders stood at 63 per 1,000— nearly 10 times higher than the 6.4 per 1,000 rate for non-Indigenous children.
Catherine Liddle, Chief Executive of SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children, said the figures expose another year of government inaction in protecting vulnerable children.
"These statistics represent real children who have been let down for another 12 months by the very systems meant to keep them safe," Ms Liddle said.
"It is a festering national sore."
She said the latest report shows that "governments have failed to act on what works - transitioning delegated authority to the ACCO [Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation] sector".
Speaking from a justice conference in Mparntwe/Alice Springs this week, Ms Liddle added: "This lack of progress also reflects a broader failure to meet the Closing the Gap which has devastating consequences for our children."
The AIHW data also shows 1,206 unborn Indigenous children were subject to child protection services — 200 more than unborn non-Indigenous children.
Of the 44,900 children in OOHC nationwide, nearly 20,000 (50.3 per 1,000) were Indigenous—10.9 times the rate for non-Indigenous children. The rate has remained steady since the latest Closing the Gap agreement was signed in 2020.
Victoria currently records the highest rate of Indigenous child removals—more than 90 per 1,000 — followed by South Australia.
In June 2024, Coroner Simon McGregor found the state's child protection system was plagued by systemic racism. His findings came after the death of a 17-year-old Wemba Wemba girl, known as XY, who took her own life after repeated requests to reconnect with her culture were ignored.
Victorian Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn previously acknowledged more needed to be done. She pointed to reforms intended to advance self-determination and ensure Aboriginal voices are central to child welfare decisions.
"We have the highest rate of Aboriginal children placed in kinship care in the country, with 82 per cent of children placed with kin compared to the national average of 63 per cent," Minister Blandthorn said in February.
"The safety and wellbeing of children is at the centre of everything we do, and we are listening to First Peoples about policies that directly affect them so that we can deliver practical change."
These reforms include $191 million in funding for the Wungurilwil Gapgapduir: Aboriginal Children and Families Agreement and support for Indigenous-led health pilot programs.
In New South Wales, the Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation, AbSec, last month welcomed the state government's commitment of $900 million over five years to improve support for vulnerable families and reform the child protection system.
"This approach is more than a policy shift — it is an act of justice. It restores our communities' right to care for our children and young people in ways that reflect who we are, where we come from, and what we need to thrive," AbSec Chief Executive John Leha said at the time.
Ms Liddle emphasised that a shift in support and funding toward ACCOs is critical to improving outcomes.
"They are key to turning these statistics around," she said.
"We're calling for the urgent transition of delegated authority to ACCOs and real investment in self-determination to support real change for our children."
