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Re-entry data

• Graphs
• Tables
• What is re-entry?
• Why this topic is important
• Trends

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Graphs

Notes:

• Resubstantiations are measured as the proportion of distinct children subject to substantiations in a financial year who were the subject of a subsequent substantiation within a period of three and 12 months. Figures for 2004-05 relate to children subject to an initial substantiation in 2004-05, and resubstantiated within three and 12 months.
• Children who were subject to a decision not to substantiate experiencing a subsequent substantiation are measured as the proportion of distinct children subject to a decision not to substantiate in a financial year who were subject to a substantiation within a period of three and 12 months. Figures for 2004–05 relate to children subject to a decision not to substantiate in 2004–05, and subject to a substantiation within three and 12 months.
• Each child is counted only once in each of the specified counting periods, however, a child may be counted in more than one counting period. For example, a child who was subject to a substantiation in 2004–05 and who was subject to a subsequent substantiation within two months would be counted in both the three month and 12 month counting period for that year.

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Tables

• Distinct children subject to a substantiation experiencing a resubstantiation within three and 12 months by Indigenous status (Queensland 2003-04 to 2005-06) (Excel 27 KB)
• Distinct children subject to a decision not to substantiate experiencing substantiation within three and 12 months by Indigenous status (Queensland 2003-04 to 2005-06) (Excel 31 KB)

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What is re-entry?

The number of children who re-enter the child protection system provides an indication of the extent to which our 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 our 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.

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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.

Our 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.

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Trends

The percentage of children resubstantiated within 12 months decreased from 2004-05 to 2005-06, from 20.6 per cent to 18.1 per cent.

The percentage of children subject to substantiations within 12 months of a decision not to substantiate decreased over the period 2004-05 to 2005-06, from 11.2 per cent to 9.2 per cent.

The statewide implementation of our 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.

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Last updated

31 July 2008