Children and young people who go missing from out-of-home care placement are among the most vulnerable in Australia, yet there has been limited population-level evidence to inform policy responses. As New South Wales (NSW) continues to reform and rebuild its out-of-home care system, including the recent inquiry launched by the NSW Ombudsman into children and young people away from placement, this data is critical to inform evidence-informed service delivery and to improve the safety, welfare and wellbeing of these young people.
A new report published by the Australian Public Policy Institute (APPI) provides the first linked, population-scale analysis of children who spend time away from their placement in NSW and identifies practical opportunities to strengthen prevention, intervention and support. Authored by researchers from the University of Sydney, the report draws on linked administrative records from the NSW Human Services Dataset to examine the prevalence, risk factors and service use patterns of children who spent time away from placement between 2000 and 2019.
The report found that 1,149 children and young people were recorded as having ‘missing episodes‘ over this period. Children who went missing from care were more likely to enter care at an older age, experience placement instability and be placed in residential care, youth refuges, hotel or alternative care arrangements, or independent living settings.
Importantly, the research found that most children recorded as missing quickly presented in other public service systems, highlighting opportunities for stronger information sharing and coordinated responses across government agencies. The report identifies five policy opportunities for the NSW Government: strengthening relationships around vulnerable children, bolstering integrated service delivery models, improving placement stability and care options, implementing annual reviews of children in care and exploring real-time cross-agency data sharing.
Lead author, Professor Stefanie Schurer from the University of Sydney, said the findings demonstrate the need for a more coordinated and preventative approach. “Children who spend time away from placement represent a distinct and highly vulnerable cohort. Our research findings suggest that better coordination across services — especially improved data sharing to locate missing children faster — along with more stable care arrangements, could help improve safety and long-term outcomes.”
...better coordination across services — especially improved data sharing to locate missing children faster — along with more stable care arrangements, could help improve safety and long-term outcome.
Professor Stefanie Schurer, University of Sydney
Marianna Brungs, Executive Director of Policy & Projects at APPI, said the report provides policymakers with an important evidence base for reform. “This report sheds new light on a longstanding policy challenge that is important to consider within the ongoing out-of-home care reforms. It highlights evidence-based opportunities to strengthen collaboration across services, improve the stability of care arrangements and ensure that children at greatest risk receive the support they need.”
