Four children a day abused while in care, independent report finds

A shocking new report reveals the extent of abuse of children in care in Australia, with children from one group particularly over-represented.

Nearly four kids a day are being sexually, physically or mentally abused while in care, a shocking new report has revealed.

Out of a total of 1442 children – whose abuse was recorded or proven in the last financial year – 41 per cent were aged 10 to 14, 27 per cent were aged five to nine and 22 per cent aged 15 and over.

More than half of the victims of abuse were girls, who were more likely to suffer sexual abuse.

Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer was sexually abused by her foster brother and killed by her foster dad.

Around a third of the children (32 per cent) suffered physical abuse, which was the most common type of abuse, followed by emotional abuse (28 per cent), sexual abuse (21 per cent), and neglect (19 per cent).

Almost half were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, reflecting the over-representation of indigenous children in care.

One of Australia’s most extreme cases of foster case abuse was that of murdered Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, 12, who was sexually abused by her foster brother and killed by her foster father Rick Thorburn in 2015, in a bid to cover it up.

Rick Thorburn being escorted by police from the Logan Central Police Station, Queensland, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his 12-year-old foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer in October 2015. Picture: AAP

Carol Ronken from Australian child protection organisation, Bravehearts, said it was “frightening to see these types of numbers of children being harmed in care”.

“We need to do so much more to protect these children.”

Nicole Breeze from UNICEF Australia emphasised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children living with a disability and children without the care and protection of their family are at greater risk of abuse.

“It is abhorrent to us that children who are putting their trust in the adults that are meant to care for and protect them are being exploited and hurt in that environment,” she said.

Carol Ronken from child protection group Bravehearts said the number of kids being abused in care was ‘frightening’.

It is the first time the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released figures on how many kids are abused while in the care of a foster family, residential care or relatives.

It said some of the cases included in the data may be historical, but were recorded in that time period.

The report was released following a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

“The effects of these experiences can last a lifetime and can affect future generations,”

AIHW spokesperson Dinesh Indraharan, said.

“By bringing together the available data in conjunction with the Commonwealth and states and territories, we hope to strengthen the evidence and build a more coherent picture of abuse in care in Australia.”

Dinesh Indraharan, Team Lead, in the Child Welfare Unit, at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Picture: Supplied