2850. Hon Alison Xamon to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection:
(1) How many children are under the care of the Department of Child Protection:
(a) across the whole of Western Australia;
(b) in the Perth metropolitan area?
(2) How many approved foster carers are there:
(a) across the whole of Western Australia;
(b) in the Perth metropolitan area?
(3) How many approved family carers are there:
(a) across the whole of Western Australia;
(b) in the Perth metropolitan area?
(4) How many residential placements are funded:
(a) across the whole of Western Australia;
(b) in the Perth metropolitan area?
(5) How many residential placements are currently vacant:
(a) across the whole of Western Australia;
(b) in the Perth metropolitan area?
Hon Sue Ellery replied:
The following responses relate to children in the care of the CEO for the Department of Communities on 29 February 2020;
(1) (a) there were 5,510 children in care across Western Australia.
(b) there were 3,599 children in care in the Perth metropolitan area.
(2) (a) there were 952 approved foster carer households with children placed across WA.
(b) there were 410 approved departmental foster carer households with children placed in the Perth metropolitan area. Information regarding community service organisation funded foster carers is not readily available by location as the carers are managed by the individual agencies.
(3) (a) there were 1,118 approved family carer households with children placed across WA.
(b) there were 721 approved family carer households with children placed in the Perth metropolitan area.
(4)–(5) There are 56 departmentally delivered residential care placements in the metropolitan area, and up to 64 places in regional WA. On 29 February 2020, there were 51 children placed in the metropolitan area and 47 in regional WA.
Whilst a residential care facility may be able to accommodate up to four children in the metropolitan area and up to six to eight in regional WA, the children referred to these homes have often faced significant trauma and/or neglect. As a result, these children may exhibit the most complex behaviours and may be a risk to other children or residents. In these cases, children or family groups may be housed alone or with limited other residents. Unoccupied beds would not be considered vacancies in these situations.
There were 301 community sector funded residential placements across WA with 169 placements located in the Perth metropolitan area.
Communities is currently consulting with community sector providers and will provide the number of vacancies when available.