Children 'raped, abused' in care: ombudsman report

VICTORIA'S most vulnerable children are being physically and sexually abused, raped by other children and sexually exploited by carers.

VICTORIA'S most vulnerable children are being physically and sexually abused, raped by other children and sexually exploited by carers while in the state child protection system.

A damning Ombudsman's report has uncovered a number of instances where children in foster care, residential homes and the care of relatives have had their limbs broken, seen their guardians selling drugs to other children and been kept with families despite evidence of abuse.

In what the opposition has described as a "sickening" report, Ombudsman George Brouwer has identified a number of failures by the Department of Human Services, including not screening carers properly, especially when the person is an extended relative of the child, failing to adhere to procedures and not taking appropriate action against carers after cases of abuse. "In reviewing the circumstances of a number of children I have concluded that further harm may have been avoided if adequate screening and assessment of their carers had occurred," he stated. "It is unacceptable that these children were harmed when there was information available to indicate their carers posed a risk to them."

He found there was a significant "lack of transparency and independent oversight" in relation to the quality of care provided in the out-of-home care system, saying the department did not fully report on incidents to the public and did not even provide information on the area to the Productivity Commission.

The Ombudsman was also dismayed at the lack of progress by the department in efforts to implement similar recommendations he made in 2005, including guidelines on how to respond to allegations of abuse and neglect in care that have been in a draft form since 2007.

"Children in out-of-home care have suffered abuse and neglect leading to their placement in care. The state has a responsibility to ensure that the trauma already suffered by these children is not compounded by further abuse," Mr Brouwer says in his report tabled in state parliament yesterday. "An unacceptable number of children do not experience out-of-home care placements as the secure and safe environment they should be. Rather, they are subject to further abuse and neglect."

Mr Brouwer drew on statistics from the Child Safety Commissioner, who found 593 children were subject to alleged physical or sexual abuse while in care from 2008 to 2009. There were also 73 incidents of prostitution involving 21 children.

He made 21 recommendations, including reviewing financial support for carers, compiling and publishing statistics of alleged abuse, enacting more transparency and improving carer training.

Premier John Brumby apologised in question time for the abuse, but said his government had significantly increased resources to the sector and introduced a number of reforms. The out-of-home care system had evolved from large group homes in the 1970s and 1980s that had "failed so miserably".

"The fact is the system today is significantly better than the system it replaced," he said. "(But) it's not, and never will, be a perfect system."

Most of the 5000 children in care were well looked after and there was only a small minority who betrayed their trust.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said Community Services Minister Lisa Neville should resign. "This report catalogues a catastrophic failure of this government to protect vulnerable children in Victoria," he said.