Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Table of contents:

Graphs

Proportion of children subject to a substantiation experiencing a resubstantiation within 12 months, by Indigenous status, Queensland, 2005-06 to 2009-10 Proportion of children subject to a substantiation experiencing a resubstantiation within 12 months, by Indigenous status, Queensland, 2005-06 to 2009-10

YearIndigenousNon-IndigenousAll children
2005-06 22.5 % 17.4 % 18.1 %
2006-07 20.6 % 13.9 % 15.3 %
2007-08 19.5 % 14.5 % 15.7 %
2008-09 21.6 % 15.1 % 16.9 %
2009-10 21.2 % 16.2 % 17.7 %

Proportion of children subject to a substantiation within 12 months of a decision not to substantiate, by Indigenous status, Queensland, 2005-06 to 2009-10

YearIndigenousNon-IndigenousAll children
2005-06 16.2 % 8.5 % 9.2 %
2006-07 14.8 % 7.1 % 8.3 %
2007-08 13.8 % 7.9 % 9 %
2008-09 12.9 % 7.8 % 8.9 %
2009-10 10.1 % 7 % 8 %

Tables

DescriptionAnnualQuarterly
RE.1: Children subject to a substantiation experiencing a resubstantiation within three or 12 months, by Indigenous status, Queensland Excel (XLS, 30 KB) Excel (XLS, 28 KB)
RE.2: Children subject to an initial decision not to substantiate experiencing a substantiation within three or 12 months, by Indigenous status, Queensland Excel (XLS, 30 KB) Excel (XLS, 28 KB)

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 the 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 or illness). 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. To help prevent re-entry the department funds prevention and early intervention services for families to have access to appropriate support services.

The department also works on an ongoing basis with children, young people and their families, and the frontline staff are dedicated to providing family support and assistance.

Trends

Over the last five years, the rate of re-entry decreased across the two re-entry measures. The resubstantiation rate within 12 months decreased from 18.1 per cent in 2005-06 to 17.7 per cent in 2009-10. However, there was a slight increase in the resubstantiation rate within 12 months from 2006-07 (15.3 per cent) to 2009-10 (17.7 per cent).

The statewide implementation of the department's Structured Decision Making (SDM) tools, which assist with 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.