CAFWAA Jan06

The Child and Family Welfare
Association of Australia

Media Release 18 January 2006

Care System Placed Under Greater Pressure

Responding to the increased numbers of children in care raises serious questions about the capacity of child welfare systems across the country, warned the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia (CAFWAA) today. The Association was responding to the AIHW report that shows that the number of all children in care has increased 70% since 1996 to 23,695 children in care in 2005.

“The increase in the number of children coming into care as a result of neglect and abuse is not sustainable” said the CAFWAA chairperson, Simon Schrapel. “What is urgently needed is a national approach to stem the tide of rising child abuse in Australia and in particular to establish a concerted and comprehensive prevention plan aimed at supporting families and children at risk”.

“At the same time, if we are to continue to bring children into care in these numbers we must make a more serious investment in foster care” said Mr Schrapel. “Numbers of carers have been at best steady and in some cases declining across Australia as people find it difficult to meet the increasingly complex needs of children and young people in care.”

“Foster carers are ageing and many are leaving the system. Employment patterns mean that fewer people are available to be full time carers and the foster carers remaining in the system are being asked to take on more children”.

“CAFWAA and its state and territory peak members have been calling for investment in research into models that work, a bolstering of foster care including professional foster care and carer payments.” said Mr Schrapel.

“The data on indigenous children in care present an appalling and shameful picture” added Mr Schrapel. “The inability of the various governments and the community as a whole to address the health, housing and welfare needs of the Aboriginal community is coming back to haunt us as we are faced with the removal of so many children from their parents and communities. That so many of tomorrow’s adult community are growing up in care is something that must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Contact: Simon Schrapel 0411 643 132 or 08 8305 9210