Inquiry wants to hear from at-risk kids government puts up in hotels and caravan parks

Shocking reports about children who have been removed from their families being put up in hotels and motels — sometimes for more than a year — has prompted a special inquiry into their care.

A special inquiry into how young people are being left unsupervised in hotels and caravan parks after being removed from their families wants to hear from the children themselves before it listens to anyone else.

The inquiry — convened by the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People (ACYP) — comes amid concerns some “hotel kids” are not going to school, participating in sport or being given opportunities for social interaction.

Some NGOs charged with looking after the children as they await placement are being paid millions, only to contract out the supervision to unaccredited and untrained shiftworkers, further exposing the risk of abuse and neglect.

It can be revealed in one month alone authorities received multiple “risk of significant harm” reports about children in so-called “alternative care arrangements”, including 16 relating to sexual abuse and 13 to physical abuse.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed earlier this year that there were about 75 children being looked after in hotels, motels and serviced apartments, with a lack of foster carers and a reluctance to take on kids with complex needs among the key issues. This number has since risen to 120.

Some children have been in ‘temporary’ accommodation for 470 days. Picture: iStock/Getty Images

The length of stay for children in alternative care arrangements — which can also include caravan parks — is between three and 470 days, with the ­average being 118 days.

It is understood alternative care arrangements last year alone cost taxpayers more than $99 million.

The inquiry, to be led by ACYP advocate Zoe Robinson, will specifically target children and young people who have experience in alternative care arrangements.

Ms Robinson, who shone a light on the state’s out-of-home care system in a critical report almost two years ago, told The Sunday Telegraph the first phase of the inquiry would involve conversations with children themselves.

“The inquiry will allow children and young people in the system to talk about what the impact has been on their lives and we will be going to the kids to speak with them,” Ms Robinson said.

“We want to understand access to school, social interactions, sport.

“Young people have a right to education and social interaction. But what are we doing to ensure this? We don’t know what we don’t know.”

Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington said the government had inherited a child protection system “spiralling out of control”.

“These arrangements cost an obscene amount of taxpayer money but, worse still, the outcomes for children are just terrible,” she said.

“Our government is determined to reform the child protection system, and our first priority is getting kids out of motels where so much damage is being done.

“The voices of children and young people will be at the heart of this inquiry, and I know that will be a powerful force for change, which I wholeheartedly welcome.”

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