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The Failing Residential Care System: A Call for Change
The findings of the report paint a concerning picture of residential care for many young people, revealing that the system often falls short in providing the essential elements of connection, love, safety, and stability that children need to thrive. For far too many, the care they receive fails to address these fundamental needs, leaving them vulnerable and un-supported. The report highlights that residential care, which should serve as a safe haven for children in need, often struggles to fulfill its role as a nurturing environment. Instead, many young people feel disconnected, unloved, and unsafe within the system designed to protect them. This failure is not isolated but is a systemic issue that requires urgent attention and reform.
The Report’s Key Findings and Recommendations
The report presents nine actionable recommendations aimed at addressing the systemic shortcomings in Queensland’s child protection system. A central focus of these recommendations is the role of the system as a parent and its capacity to respond effectively to the needs of children and families. One of the most critical recommendations is the call for universal access to mental health support for all children in care. The evidence presented in the report suggests that some referrals to mental health services are closed if children are not actively engaging, a practice that highlights the gaps in support for vulnerable young people. This raises serious concerns about the system’s ability to identify and address the mental health needs of children, particularly those who may be struggling to cope with their circumstances.
A System in Crisis: Design Flaws andeglaring Inadequacies
Luke Twyford, chair of the Child Death Review Board, has been vocal about the systemic failures in Queensland’s child protection system. Twyford acknowledges the dedication of many frontline workers but emphasizes that the system’s design is fundamentally flawed. “What I am very clear on is that the design of the system is wrong,” he stated, pointing to the inability of the system to provide a loving and caring parental role for children in care. This critique is particularly poignant given the alarming rise in the number of children in residential care across Queensland, which has increased from 951 in June 2019 to 1,763 in June 2023. The system’s inability to provide consistent, nurturing care has left many children feeling lost and disconnected, moving from one placement to another without a sense of stability or belonging.
The Alarming Statistics: Lives Lost and Lessons Unlearned
The report’s analysis of 70 deaths of children in care reveals a sobering reality. Of these deaths, 29 were attributed to natural causes, while five were the result of assault and neglect. Three deaths were caused by drowning, six were suicides, eight were transport-related, and seven resulted from other non-intentional injuries. Twelve deaths remain unexplained. Perhaps most alarmingly, at least 27 of the children were Indigenous, and 45 were under the age of nine. These statistics underscore the disproportionate impact on Indigenous children and the urgent need for targeted interventions to address systemic inequalities. Domestic and family violence, methamphetamine use, and housing instability were identified as significant factors in the lives of these children, highlighting the interconnected challenges they face.
A Parental Role in Crisis: The Need forSystemic Overhaul
Twyford’s critique of the system goes to the heart of its purpose. “We are paying people to create documents and plans and safety assessments, but no one is clearly performing a loving and caring parental role, and that has to change,” he said. This sentiment reflects a broader failure of the system to prioritize the emotional and relational needs of children. Instead of providing a sense of belonging and care, the system often treats children as commodities, moving them from one place to another without addressing their deeper emotional needs. Twyford’s words are a call to action, urging the state government to establish more prevention services to identify the root causes of why children enter the child protection system in the first place.
APath Forward: Transforming the Child Protection System
The report’s findings and Twyford’s critique highlight the urgent need for systemic transformation. Queensland’s child protection system is currently under review following significant failures in high-profile cases, including one of Australia’s worst paedophiles. This review provides an opportunity to address the systemic flaws that have allowed children to fall through the cracks. By prioritizing prevention, ensuring universal access to mental health support, and redesigning the system to prioritize the parental role, Queensland can begin to address the failings identified in the report. The lives and well-being of thousands of children depend on it.
