Graphs
Proportion of children in out-of-home care who are placed with their siblings, as at 30 June, 2012
| Year | Placed with at least one sibling | Not placed with at least one sibling |
|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 73.4 % | 26.6 % |
Table
| Description | Annual | Quarterly |
|---|---|---|
| PWS.1: Proportion of children in out-of-home care who are placed with their siblings, Queensland | Excel Excel | Excel Excel |
What is a placement with a sibling?
When a sibling group requires an out-of-home care placement, the first preference is to keep the sibling group together, where there is a suitable foster care, kinship care or licensed residential care service placement available, and the placement option is in the best interests of all children.
Why this topic is important
Placing a sibling group together in out-of-home care where it is possible, and in their best interests will assist the children in adjusting to their new placement by reducing the level of disruption to the lives.
Trends
As at 30 June 2012, there were 6,101 siblings in out-of-home care. Of these, 4,419 children (or 72.4 per cent) were placed together with at least one sibling.
Factors that may affect the ability to place a sibling group together include:
- Any history of abuse within the sibling group
- The role and responsibilities each sibling has previously undertaken within the family, for example, older siblings taking inappropriate levels of adult responsibility for younger siblings
- Whether the proposed placement is suitable for all siblings.
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