KIDS in out-of-home care should have access to an independent complaints authority which can report to parliament, the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People says.
It must be genuinely accessible, Advocate Zoe Robinson says, calling on the NSW Government to invest in independent socio-legal advocacy services.
That's what's needed to support and empower children and young people with out-of-home-care experiences to advocate for their 'fundamental needs' to be met and their rights upheld, Ms Robinson said.
That was one of four recommendations made in her final report into high-cost emergency arrangements (HCEAs) within the NSW child protection system released on Monday (August 5) after an inquiry launched in September, 2023.
Those types of accommodation, including hotels and motels, have been used increasingly in recent years when a child is removed from their family.
By the end of June, 2023, there were about 500 children and young people in HCEAs across NSW, including 26 in hotels and motels, 37 in serviced apartments and 55 in short-term rentals including caravan parks.
Costs out of control
This can cost upwards of $2 million a year for each child; more than $38,000 a week. In comparison, a child in foster care costs a maximum of $74,000 per year.
"It is my view that the children and young people placed in ACAs are at significant risk of experiencing negative short and long-term impacts, which can lead to further complexities as they grow and develop," Ms Robinson said.
"It is clear to me that now is the time to enact positive, long-lasting change. Children and young people do not ask for much, in circumstances where they could legitimately ask much more of the system that is designed to care for them. But they do seek safety, stability, and love."
The interim report, released in May, detailed that some children in HCEAs felt like they had been moved "from cage to cage". In response, the NSW Government established an urgent review of the child protection system which is expected to be completed by October 2024.
Unacceptable, says Minister
This week's report details the experiences of 21 children whose stories the Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington describes as 'stark and shocking'.
"I have been working closely with the Advocate for Children and Young People to respond to this report, including meeting with some of the young people who shared their stories.
"The stories are stark and shocking and confirm what I have been saying for the last year: that the child protection system is broken and needs reform.
"Since last year, we have worked hard to get children out of these inappropriate arrangements - and the numbers have dropped significantly.
"We will continue our work to get the best outcomes for children in out-of-home care in NSW."
The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) has created a team dedicated to moving children out of HCEAs to more suitable arrangements.
Moving out
The number of children in HCEAs has since dropped by 25 per cent in eight months, DCJ says, from 506 in November, 2023, to 381 on July 31.
Greens MP and spokesperson for Youth Justice Sue Higginson said the report bluntly acknowledged the damaged caused by these types of arrangements was an old, tragic and open secret.
"We now have a dozen reviews and reports that paint a horrifying picture. This system is a machine that splits families, grinds down good foster carers and funnels public money to for-profit companies that are actively harming children," Ms Higginson said.
"The recommendations are clear, the Minns Government must immediately invest in early and genuine family support and stable, permanent and culturally appropriate out-of-home care,"
"The only way out of this crisis is to invest in families and communities to ensure they can care for kids ...
"The Minister has a legal duty of care and, I know, a deep personal commitment to each and every child and young person in out-of-home care. She must take back control."
