Legal and ethical requirements

Child Protection in Australia

Child protection refers to preventing and responding to violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect, and harmful practices against children (UNICEF 2021). When children cannot live safely at home, child protection systems prioritise children’s physical, mental and psychosocial needs to safeguard their lives and futures (UNICEF 2021). Child protection functions to protect the fundamental rights of children which include safety, freedom from violence and a stable family environment (UN General Assembly 1989).

The child protection system aims to protect children from maltreatment in family settings.

Reference | Australian Government , Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024, Child protection Australia 2021-2022 accessed 30/05/2024 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2021-22/contents/child-protection-system-in-australia

Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power (WHO 2020).

Reference | Australian Government , Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024, Child protection Australia 2021-2022 accessed 30/05/2024 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2021-22/contents/child-protection-system-in-australia

Children in the child protection system

In 2021–22, around 1 in 32 (178,000) Australian children aged under 18 came into contact with the child protection system (see: Data table 2.2). About 1 in 124 (45,500) Australian children aged under 18 became subjects of substantiated maltreatment (see: Supplementary data table S3.3). That is, an investigation concluded that they were being, or were at risk of being, maltreated.

A summary of children by components of the child protection system is outlined in Table 1.1. below

Reference | Australian Government , Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024, Child protection Australia 2021-2022 accessed 30/05/2024 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2021-22/contents/child-protection-system-in-australia