The Office of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner’s (OATSICC) report, Principle focus: A continued commitment to systemic accountability for the safety and wellbeing of Queensland’s First Nations children.
The report provides an updated analysis of the ongoing over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Queensland’s child protection system and examines whether current reforms are achieving meaningful change.
The findings show that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be significantly over-represented across all stages of the child protection system, including out-of-home care. The report identifies increasing rates of children entering care, longer periods spent in care, and substantial growth in residential care placements.
The report reinforces that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP) remains a critical safeguard for children’s rights, safety, wellbeing and cultural identity. It also highlights the need for stronger implementation of the ATSICPP across legislation, policy, programs and frontline practice to the standard of Active Efforts.
The report also calls for:
- greater investment in prevention and early intervention
- stronger support for reunification and family preservation
- increased placements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kin
- improved transparency and accountability
- strengthened Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination and community-led solutions.
This work reflects OATSICC’s ongoing commitment to promoting children’s rights, driving systemic accountability, and evidence-informed reform.