Re-entry data
Graphs
Proportion of children re-substantiated within three months, by Indigenous status, Queensland 2003-04 to 2006-07.
| Year | Indigenous | Non-Indigenous | All children |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | 18.6 % | 11.2 % | 11.9 % |
| 2004-05 | 13.9 % | 8.7 % | 9.2 % |
| 2005-06 | 10.7 % | 7.7 % | 8.1 % |
| 2006-07 | 7.6 % | 5.8 % | 6.2 % |
Proportion of children re-substantiated within 12 months, by Indigenous status Queensland, 2003-04 to 2006-07.
| Year | Indigenous | Non-Indigenous | All children |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | 34.8 % | 25.6 % | 26.5 % |
| 2004-05 | 26.7 % | 20 % | 20.6 % |
| 2005-06 | 22.5 % | 17.4 % | 18.1 % |
| 2006-07 | 20.6 % | 13.9 % | 15.3 % |
Proportion of children subject to a substantiation within three months of a decision not to substantiate, by Indigenous status Queensland, 2003-04 to 2006-07.
| Year | Indigenous | Non-Indigenous | All children |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | 8.8 % | 4.6 % | 4.9 % |
| 2004-05 | 4.5 % | 4.2 % | 4.2 % |
| 2005-06 | 6.9 % | 2.7 % | 3.1 % |
| 2006-07 | 5.1 % | 2.6 % | 3 % |
Proportion of children subject to a substantiation within 12 months of a decision not to substantiate, by Indigenous status Queensland, 2003-04 to 2006-07.
| Year | Indigenous | Non-Indigenous | All children |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | 23.4 % | 14.6 % | 15.1 % |
| 2004-05 | 15 % | 11 % | 11.2 % |
| 2005-06 | 16.2 % | 8.5 % | 9.2 % |
| 2006-07 | 14.8 % | 7.1 % | 8.3 % |
Tables
- Children subject to a substantiation experiencing a resubstantiation within three and 12 months by Indigenous status (Queensland 2003-04 to 2006-07)
- Children subject to a decision not to substantiate experiencing substantiation within three and 12 months by Indigenous status (Queensland 2003-04 to 2006-07)
What is re-entry?
The number of children who re-enter the child protection system provides an indication of the extent to which the department's intervention has succeeded in preventing further harm.
There are two key re-entry measures used by our department:
- resubstantiations - the proportion of children substantiated in a financial year who are the subject of a subsequent substantiation within three or 12 months
- substantiations following a decision not to substantiate - this is a measure of the proportion of children subject to a decision not to substantiate in a financial year who are subsequently substantiated within three or 12 months.
It is important to note that these rates are often affected by factors beyond the department's control, such as changes in family circumstances (for example, a new partner, illness, or unemployment). Resubstantiation is also more likely to occur if a family does not have access to the necessary support services it requires.
Why this topic is important
Effective intervention is a key strategy for reducing the re-entry of a child into the child protection system.
We work in partnership with the Department of Communities which is responsible for the provision of prevention and early intervention services, to refer families to appropriate support services.
The department also works on an ongoing basis with children, young people and their families, and our frontline staff are dedicated to providing family support and assistance.
Trends
The percentage of children resubstantiated within 12 months decreased between 2005-06 and 2006-07, from 18.1 per cent to 15.3 per cent. The resubstantiation rate was higher for Indigenous children in 2006-07 (20.6 per cent for Indigenous children compared to 13.9 per cent for non-Indigenous children).
The percentage of children subject to substantiations within 12 months of a decision not to substantiate decreased over the period 2005-06 to 2006-07, from 9.2 per cent in 2005-06 to 8.3 per cent in 2006-07. As per the resubstantiation rate, the introduction of SDM tools in 2005-06 is likely to have contributed to the decrease in the substantiation rate after a decision not to substantiate.
The statewide implementation of the department's Structured Decision Making (SDM) tools, which allow consistent, evidence-based decisions at crucial points in child protection practice including risk assessment and family reunification assessment, is likely to have assisted in reducing these rates.
- Last updated
- 2 March 2009