Worrying child harm numbers But figures not a ‘true reflection’

A CHILD is confirmed to have suffered harm, or is at risk of becoming a victim, every three days in the South-East region, which includes the Gold Coast.

But child safety advocate Hetty Johnston said the figures were not a “true reflection” of the issue.

Government data shows there were a staggering 1189 substantiated cases of harm against 1136 children in the South-East region, which includes the Gold Coast, Logan and Beaudesert, in the year to September 2019.

For the 12 months to September 2018, there 1214 substantiated cases of harm against 1112 children.

A “substantiated” outcome arises when it’s assessed a young person has suffered, is suffering, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering future, significant harm.

The data shows 326 families in the South-East region were working intensively with child safety officers from home in the 12 months to September 2019.

Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston, who called for systemic change to the Department of Child Safety, said: “In order for a matter to be substantiated or not, it needs to be investigated and a high proportion of the matters that are brought to the attention of the department are not investigated.

“The substantiated and not substantiated (figures) are not a true reflection of the level of harm being perpetrated against children in the community,” she said.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the scale of abuse gave further support to her party’s push to create a new Child Protection Force, announced this week, which would include a 24-hour rapid-response team and a new squad of police investigators to clear the backlogs.

Under the plan, parents in these families would all be subjected to drug-testing.

“Labor’s child safety system is still failing to protect vulnerable children and I’m determined to overhaul it,” Ms Frecklington said.

“The cycle of tragedies, inquiries, and failures must end.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this week promised to work with the Opposition to reform the system.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Child Safety Department “needs to do better” and “that is why we need a new model”.

Child Safety Minister Di Farmer told the Bulletin last night the substantiated cases of harm on the Gold Coast demonstrated child safety officers were “doing their job by reacting, investigating and verifying reports of abuse and neglect”.

THE SUBSTANTIATED AND NOT SUBSTANTIATED (FIGURES) ARE NOT A TRUE REFLECTION OF THE LEVEL OF HARM

BRAVEHEARTS’ HETTY JOHNSTON